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WASHINGTON — Representatives from the liquor industry hope upcoming trade talks between the U.S. and India lead to a further reduction in tariffs on spirits, including Kentucky bourbon.
Reuters reports U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is scheduled to visit India next week.
Chris Swonger, head of the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S., said the trip presents an opportunity for American whiskey exports.
“India is the largest whiskey market in the world, but unfortunately, American whiskey has a pinprick of market share,” Swonger said.
After Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with President Donald Trump last year, India lowered its tariff on bourbon from 150% to 100%.
That led to a nearly 22% increase in exports of bottled bourbon to India in 2025, compared to the year before, according to Swonger.
In a letter to Greer this week, Swonger wrote:
“As you enter this phase of negotiations, we reiterate our request that the U.S. secure an agreement with India that provides preferential market access for all categories of bottled and bulk U.S. distilled spirits. At a minimum, the final tariff commitments should ensure that U.S. distilled spirits are not placed at a competitive disadvantage compared to other imported spirits.”
“We hope that it brings that down to a zero tariff because fair and reciprocal trade is fair and reciprocal trade, so it should be zero because the United States does not apply a tariff or trade barriers on Indian distilled spirits products coming into the United States,” Swonger told Spectrum News.
In his letter, Swonger said India has agreed to lower tariffs on EU and UK liquors to 75%, and eventually 40%.
The council is asking the Trump administration to secure a reduction comparable to, if not better than, those agreements.
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