India looks for greater market access on a reciprocal basis for its alcoholic beverages while negotiating free trade agreements (FTAs), a senior government official said on Thursday.
Additional Secretary in the Commerce Ministry, Rajesh Agrawal, said that demand for Indian spirits is growing in the world.
“On the market access point of view, it is on a reciprocal basis. If we are opening up our market in any way…we also try to look for market access in other countries,” he told reporters here.
The remarks assume significance as India is negotiating a free trade agreement with the UK and the European Union (EU). Cutting customs duties in the sector is one of the key demands of these countries.
“This is one of the areas (where) we are trying to negotiate upon and…we are trying to see that the duty concessions that are required in various destinations, we get (that),” he said.
He added that the condition that for a product to qualify as a whisky, it must be matured for a period n
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