India promised industry executives a fix for disputed bulk Scotch tariff relief, Reuters reports, citing six people familiar with the matter. Tax inspectors had challenged bulk imports' eligibility for the pact's 75% rate, down from 150%. The ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters; Bloomboff has not independently verified customs treatment.⁠1

Our calculation, assuming unchanged customs value of 100 units and no other charges: a 150% tariff gives a total of 250; a 75% tariff gives 175. That's a 50% cut in duty but a 30% fall in this example's total. This is conditional arithmetic, not an observed import bill, retail-price forecast or confirmation of eligibility.

Bloomboff's take

Customs paperwork makes a lousy cocktail. Put the damn eligibility in writing.