Press Release: EU to request WTO consultations on India’s import regime for spirits and wines

The European Commission is to request formal consultations with India in the WTO (under the Dispute Settlement Understating) regarding India’s import regime for spirits and wines. This decision follows an investigation carried out in the framework of the European Union’s Trade Barriers Regulation (TBR) at the request of the European Spirits Organisation (CEPS) and the Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins (CEEV). A European Union Trade Barriers Regulation Investigation concluded that access to the potentially large Indian market for spirits and wines is severely restricted due to a high duty burden and restrictions on retail distribution in certain Indian States. The European Union considers that these trade barriers are in clear breach of international trade rules. After having allowed India a considerable period of time to address the problem, the EU now hopes to use the WTO consultation process to arrive at a mutually satisfactory solution with India.