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On February 13, President Trump and Prime Minister Modi issued a joint statement announcing lower tariffs on bourbon whiskey.

Korea’s beer imports reached $218 million in 2023, up 11.8 percent from $195 million in 2022, but still 30 percent down from the record high of $310 million in 2018. Although Korea’s beer imports have been decreasing since the pandemic, the United States increased exports of beer to Korea in 2023, reaching $17.9 million, up 43% from $12.5 million in 2022.

Korea’s wine import sector has been undergoing a stabilizing phase since the explosive growth around 2021. In 2023, wine imports reached 506 million USD, down 12.9 percent from the previous year, totaling 56.5 million kg, a decrease of 20.4 percent compared to 2022.

India’s total alcoholic beverage sector is the world’s third largest, with yearly sales of $44 billion according to Euromonitor. Despite India’s high import tariff structure, lack of uniformity in state excise rates, state specific regulations, and limited opportunities for the marketing of alcoholic beverages, the sector continues to witness significant growth that is set to expand to $55 billion by 2027.

This GAIN-INDIA report is an addendum to FAS India's (New Delhi, Mumbai) (Post) GAIN-INDIA | IN2024-0012 | India’s Wine Product Labeling Requirements – Update 2024. Post sought out additional regulatory review, and has obtained a revised confirmation from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) that its Food Safety and Standards (Labeling and Display) Regulations now do not require an expiry date for wine products.

FAS India (New Delhi, Mumbai) (Post) is updating the earlier GAIN-INDIA | IN2020-0195 | FSSAI Publishes Regulations for Alcoholic Beverages report.

Ample opportunities exist for U.S. agricultural exports to South Korea. Highlighted in the chart above, U.S. agricultural product exports were a record $9.5 billion in 2022, up 2 percent from 2021. South Korea is the sixth largest export market for the United States, thanks in part to a successful free trade agreement (KORUS) between the two countries and a robust demand for high-quality U.S. food products.

On August 21, 2023, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare/Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) First Amendment Regulations 2023 in the Gazette of India (Notification No. STD/SP-21/T(Alcohol-4).

On June 8, 2023, the Government of India’s (GOI) Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) invited World Trade Organization (WTO) members to provide comments on draft amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Amendment Regulations 2023.

On October 20, 2022, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a clarification on certain provisions to the 2018 Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulation.

As the world’s largest whiskey consumer and a rising consumer of wine, India provides numerous opportunities for U.S. alcoholic beverage exports. To capture greater market share and generate enthusiasm and demand for U.S. alcohol, the Foreign Agricultural Service in New Delhi conducted U.S. alcoholic beverage promotions in New Delhi and Chennai, on March 10 and April 8, 2022, respectively.

Through its phased-in tariff reductions, the agreement will raise challenges for U.S. products including wine and spirits, cotton, pulses and beans, forest products, and tree nuts.