Tim Jackson, Director of Commercial Affairs at The Scotch Whisky Association, told trade representatives from 25 Asian, African and Caribbean countries attending a World Trade Organisation trade policy course in London that unrealistic and unaffordable taxes led to unofficial markets which generate no revenue from import duty or excise tax. He warned that penal taxation increased the risk of counterfeit products, and gave no incentive to the industry to promote and develop brands.

Urging the trade officials to reduce taxes and remove barriers to trade, Mr Jackson said that the Association had recently audited barriers to free trade for Scotch and had identified more than 300 impediments to market access in 120 different markets.

He welcomed the work of the WTO in freeing trade, highlighting the recent 44 per cent duty cut in Japan as an example of what could be achieved, and urged all course participants to develop trade policy which was non-discriminatory, and which recognised international definitions such as Scotch Whisky.