China & UK: China agrees to reduce tariffs on Scotch whisky import

China will reduce its tariffs on Scotch whisky to 5% from 10% following talks between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the British premier's press secretary said on January 29.

The reduction is a boost for one of Britain's most valued export products in a key growth market, and the press secretary said it was expected to be worth 250 million pounds ($345.35 million) over five years for UK whisky exporters.

Starmer discussed lowering whisky tariffs in talks with Xi in Beijing earlier on Thursday, as he sought economic wins despite disagreements in other areas such as human rights.

Scotland's whisky industry is a high value export that Britain has sought to promote in trade deals. A landmark free trade agreement with India sealed last year cut tariffs to 75% from 150% initially, reducing to 40% over the next decade. But efforts to reduce or exempt the industry from U.S. tariffs have so far come up short.

China agreed to strengthen labelling requirements for Scotch whisky to help protect it from counterfeiting and tampering a year ago during a financial dialogue when British finance minister Rachel Reeves visited Beijing.

In 2024 China was the tenth biggest export market for Scotch whisky, according to Scotch Whisky Association figures, which also showed the Asia-Pacific is its largest regional market by value.

China's commerce minister told Britain's trade minister that Beijing is willing to expand goods and services imports from Britain in pursuit of a more sophisticated relationship between the countries.

04 February, 2026