Australia FTA: Wine industry gears up for foreign market's entry in India

The duty cut regime on Australian wine under the recent trade agreement strikes a balance between protecting the domestic industry and opening the path for greater investments and tie-ups

India’s fledgling wine industry that has been shielded from external competition for over two decades may now have to gear up for the entry of established Australian and European winemakers into the country.
 

Earlier this year, India signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with Australia, giving the country greater market access for, among other things, wines and the industry hopes that the Centre will follow a similar template for the trade deal with the European Union, which is still being negotiated.
 

India imposes a steep 150 per cent import duty for wines, which is one of the highest in the