The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) welcomed news that China will halve tariffs on Scotch whisky from 10% to 5%, a move agreed during UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Beijing and expected to take effect from early February 2026 in a deal the UK government says could be worth around £250 million to UK exporters over the next five years.
China’s tariff rate on whisky had been increased to 10% for 2025 after a provisional 5% rate put in place in 2017 was removed, and the reversal to 5% signals a significant policy shift aimed at boosting imports.
Mark Kent, SWA Chief Executive, said, “China is a priority growth market for many Scotch Whisky producers, which in recent decades has developed into a knowledgeable and premium focused market with a strong appreciation of Scotch. The proposed tariff reduction from 10% to 5% has the potential to re-energise exports of Scotch to this important market. We are very grateful to the Prime Minister and officials on both sides for this welcome development and look forward to working with the UK Government on the rapid implementation of the tariff reduction, as part of wider work to improve competitiveness in all Scotch whisky’s global markets.”
China ranks among the top global markets for Scotch by value, accounting for hundreds of millions in annual exports, despite recent year-on-year declines, and the country imported hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of whisky in 2025, of which around 84% came from the UK. The Chinese spirits market remains dominated by domestic categories like baijiu, but demand for imported and premium whiskies has grown steadily in urban and affluent consumer segments, making tariff conditions an important factor in pricing and competitiveness for exporters.