Roll out the barrel

Trade deal agreed with India after years of talks Whisky and gin export tariffs are halved to 75%

- BY ASHLEY COWBURN Political Correspondent

KEIR Starmer yesterday hailed a major trade agreement with India as the "biggest deal" the UK has struck since Brexit.

The pact, which could boost our national economy by £4.8billion a year, follows years of negotiations with leaders in Delhi.

Boris Johnson failed to deliver a deal - seen as a key Brexit prize with Narendra Modi's government "by Diwali" in October 2022.

The Labour government said yesterday the new UK-India trade deal will mean tariffs on UK exports are slashed on products such as alcoholic beverages, cars and cosmetics.

Whisky and gin tariffs will be halved from 150% to 75% before reducing to 40% by the 10th year of the deal, the Department for Business and Trade said.

Automotive tariffs will fall from over 100% to 10% with other reductions on goods including lamb, salmon, soft drinks and chocolate.