US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that he would remove tariffs and restrictions on whiskey linked to trade between Scotland and the US state of Kentucky.
Trump's Announcement on Truth Social
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: "In Honor of the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, who have just left the White House, soon headed back to their wonderful Country, I will be removing the Tariffs and Restrictions on Whiskey having to do with Scotland's ability to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky on Whiskey and Bourbon, two very important Industries within Scotland and Kentucky."
He 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 King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking! A wonderful Honor to have them both in the USA."
Context of the Royal Visit
This announcement follows King Charles and Queen Camilla's state visit to the White House, during which trade ties and cultural relations between the United Kingdom and the United States were discussed. The visit also included conversations around strengthening economic cooperation between key industries in both countries.
According to Trump's post, the decision was influenced by long-standing trade links between Scotland's whisky industry and Kentucky's bourbon sector, particularly the exchange of materials such as wooden barrels used in production. He also suggested that the royal visit played a role in encouraging the policy shift.
Background on Tariffs
The announcement comes against the backdrop of earlier tariff measures introduced by the Trump administration in 2025, which included a 10% baseline tariff on most British goods. Those measures had raised concerns in the Scotch whisky industry, which relies heavily on exports, particularly to the United States. Trade representatives had earlier warned that such tariffs could increase pressure on distillers and impact a sector that depends significantly on international markets.
Industry Reaction
Following the latest announcement, the move is expected to be welcomed by the whisky industry. Industry representatives said distillers would be able to "breathe a little easier during a period of significant pressure on the sector," Reuters reported.
The removal of tariffs is seen as a boost for both the Scotch whisky and Kentucky bourbon industries, which have long collaborated on production techniques and barrel exchanges. The decision underscores the importance of trade relations between the UK and the US, particularly in the spirits sector.
