President Donald Trump confirmed the decision on Truth Social, stating that in honor of the King and Queen, he would remove tariffs and restrictions on whiskey related to Scotland's ability to work with Kentucky on whiskey and bourbon. "The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking!" Trump wrote. The announcement follows months of lobbying by the Scottish and UK governments to end the 10% tariffs.
The move averts a potential increase that could have imposed an additional 25% tariff in the spring. Previous tariffs levied by Trump's administration between 2019 and 2021, which reached 25%, cost the Scotch whisky sector more than £600 million in lost sales. Most Scotch producers source their casks from the United States, tying the two industries together.
As First Minister, I have made it my mission to do everything possible to lift US tariffs on our whisky. People's jobs were at stake. Millions of pounds were being lost every month from the Scottish economy. Yet despite this, and despite months of trade talks, it was obvious to me that the UK Government had done little to raise the issue of Scotch whisky, and the US president was not aware that there was an issue until he came here to Scotland. By meeting the president during his visit to Scotland and by going to Washington, to the Oval Office, we made Scotland's case. We worked directly with the Scotch Whisky Association to get Scotland's voice heard. And, we used every chance to drive our point home, not least the State Banquet hosted by His Majesty The King in London last September.
Scottish First Minister John Swinney, who met Trump during his visit to Scotland and later traveled to Washington to press the case, hailed the decision as "tremendous news for Scotland." In a statement, Swinney said, "As First Minister, I have made it my mission to do everything possible to lift US tariffs on our whisky. People's jobs were at stake. Millions of pounds were being lost every month from the Scottish economy. Yet despite this, and despite months of trade talks, it was obvious to me that the UK Government had done little to raise the issue of Scotch whisky, and the US president was not aware that there was an issue until he came here to Scotland."
Swinney added that he made Scotland's case by meeting Trump during his Scotland visit and going to the Oval Office, working with the Scotch Whisky Association. He also credited the King's role, saying Scotland is grateful for his key part in the process. The exact date for tariff removal has not been specified, and it remains unclear whether the King explicitly requested the removal during the state visit. The UK government has not yet formally responded to Swinney's criticism that it did little to raise the issue.