The UK Government has agreed a continuity trade agreement with the Southern African Customs Union and Mozambique 'guarantees zero tariffs post-Brexit for Northern Irish exports of Irish whiskey to Southern Africa.'
The agreement allows businesses to continue to trade on preferential terms with South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Eswatini and Mozambique, according to Drinks Ireland | Irish Whiskey Association.
William Lavelle, Head of Drinks Ireland | Irish Whiskey Association today met with officials of the continuity trade agreement team in the UK Department of International Trade in Whitehall in London.
Fifth Largest Market
Sub-Saharan Africa is proving to be a major growth region for Irish whiskey as sales in Mozambique reportedly grew by 24% in 2018.
Lavelle stated: “South Africa is currently the fifth largest export market for Irish whiskey while sub-Saharan Africa is proving to be a major growth region for our category."
A tariff of 154 cents per litre would have applied to Northern Irish whiskey exports to South Africa post-Brexit, had this agreement not been put in place, the group highlighted in a statement.
"Thanks to the existing EU agreement with the Southern African Customs Union, there are currently zero tariffs on Irish whiskey exports to South Africa and other markets in the union.”
Drinks Ireland representatives will also be attending today’s major Trade NI reception in the House of Commons.
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
