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Spirits

Asked by Carolyn HarrisLabourDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 20 October 2025UIN 78326

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support (a) small and (b) independent distillers wishing to export.

Answered by Chris Bryant

DBT negotiates new free trade agreements, such as the UK-India FTA, and seeks to remove market access barriers for UK distillers. We recently agreed a Geographic Indicator for Scotch Whisky in Argentina. DBT provides direct export support via business.gov.uk, including access to the Business Academy and international market teams. This November, DBT will lead a landmark Spirits trade mission to New Delhi and Mumbai, offering UK distillers a strategic gateway into India’s fast-growing alcoholic drinks market. Distillers of all sizes can access UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK’s export credit agency, which offers a wide range of products to support exporters and export-ready businesses.

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