BEIJING (Jan 29): 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 Thursday. 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. 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 10th 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.

Source: The Edge Markets January 29, 2026 14:11 UTC