US President Donald Trump has announced the removal of tariffs on whisky imports, a move the UK government confirmed will apply broadly, including to Irish whiskey, following a recent state
visit by the King and Queen.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he would eliminate restrictions affecting Scotland’s ability to trade with the state of Kentucky, particularly in the whisky and bourbon sectors. The decision marks a significant shift in trade policy that industry leaders say will ease pressure on distillers facing mounting financial losses.
Trump credited the royal visit as a decisive factor behind the move, remarking that it “got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking.” The King and Queen spent four days in the United States, visiting Washington DC, New York and Virginia as guests of the president.
Buckingham Palace responded by expressing the King’s “sincere gratitude,” adding that he would “raise a dram” in appreciation of the gesture.
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney welcomed the announcement, describing it as “tremendous news for Scotland” and acknowledging the King’s role in influencing the outcome. He noted that the tariffs had been costing the Scottish economy millions of pounds each month.
The tariffs had strained a longstanding transatlantic trade relationship, particularly affecting the Scotch whisky industry, which relies heavily on the US market. The sector also depends on imports of used bourbon barrels from Kentucky, valued at around £200 million annually, for whisky maturation.
In a statement posted on social media, Trump said the decision was made “in honour of the King and Queen,” highlighting the importance of whisky production to both Scotland and Kentucky and the historic ties between the industries.
The tariffs, originally set at 10%, had significantly impacted exports. Industry figures estimate losses of approximately £4 million per week, amounting to £150 million over the past year.
Graeme Littlejohn, strategy director at the Scotch Whisky Association, said the industry was “delighted” with the development, calling it a “real boost” that would allow distillers to “breathe a sigh of relief.” He emphasized that the outcome followed months of high-level negotiations, with the royal visit providing the final impetus.
UK Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle also welcomed the move, highlighting the importance of the whisky industry, which contributes nearly £1 billion in exports and supports thousands of jobs across the country.
The decision comes amid concerns that additional tariffs—potentially as high as 25% on single malts—could have been reintroduced later this year if no agreement had been reached. Photo by Mogens Engelund, Wikimedia commons.
