US President Donald Trump has said he will pull tariffs on whisky imports from the UK following the state visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
In a post on Truth Social yesterday (30 April), Trump said that “in honour” of the royals, he would be removing “tariffs and restrictions on whiskey having to do with Scotland’s ability to work with the commonwealth of Kentucky on whiskey and Bourbon”.
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The UK Department for Business & Trade confirmed to Just Drinks that the agreement applies to all whisky products, including Irish whiskey.
“The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do,” Trump added.
“People have wanted to do this for a long time, in that there had been great Inter-Country Trade, especially having to do with the Wooden Barrels used.”
The removal of the 10% baseline tariff, which was implemented in April last year, has been welcomed by various industry bodies.
Chris Swonger, the president and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), said the move was a “major victory” for the US hospitality industry.
“This action strengthens transatlantic ties, brings much needed certainty to our industry and allows spirits producers on both sides of the Atlantic to grow, invest and support jobs at a critical time.”
The American Whiskey Association also praised the decision, with CEO Michael Bilello calling it a “meaningful win for fair and reciprocal trade.”
“This decision recognises something our industry has long understood: American whiskey, Scotch whisky, UK whisky and Irish whiskey are connected through agriculture, craftsmanship, hospitality, tourism, trade, barrels – and friendship.”
“The barrel trade is central to that story,” he added. “American white oak barrels that first mature bourbon and other American whiskeys often go on to help shape great whiskies around the world.
“When barriers come down, that entire ecosystem becomes stronger.”
Mark Kent, the CEO of Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), added: “For months, many have worked tirelessly to return zero-for-zero tariff trade for whisky and bourbon. The special relationship that the Scotch Whisky and American Whiskey industries share will be reinvigorated by this announcement.”
Data released in February by the SWA showed that global shipments fell by 4% last year, with export volumes to the US plummeting more than 9% under the weight of the tariffs.
While the total value of global Scotch exports reached £5.36bn, the American market saw sales value decline 4% to £933m.
On the tariffs removal, Mark Kent, the CEO of the SWA, remarked that the industry had worked tirelessly to return to “zero-for-zero” tariff trade.
“The special relationship that the Scotch Whisky and American Whiskey industries share will be reinvigorated by this announcement.”
