Whisky industry leaders welcome lifting of US tariffs on their products
John Swinney says deal is a ‘win on both sides of the Atlantic’
Whisky industry leaders have welcomed the removal of US tariffs on their products from today.
President Donald Trump agreed to lift the levies after the state visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla in April.
First Minister John Swinney said the deal, which will also see US bourbon and casks arriving in the UK tariff-free, represented a “win on both sides of the Atlantic”.
However, Mr Trump will press ahead with a new 10 per cent import tariff on UK goods after the time-limited levies introduced by the president in response to a US Supreme Court defeat expired on Friday.
Emily Weaver Rhodes, SWA deputy director, said the removal of whisky tariffs showed the positive relationship between the US and UK.
She said: "There are really strong grounds and good evidence for why this is important not just for the UK, but for the US economy and that is delivering on the president's ambition to create jobs.
"I think on both sides of the Atlantic we are raising a dram to celebrate."
Ian Duddy, International Director at the SWA, said: "As Scotch Whisky's most valuable global market, worth £933 million in 2025, the removal of tariffs provides greater confidence to invest, grow exports, and support jobs and communities across Scotland and the US.
“From Kentucky to Speyside, this will not only benefit the Scotch and US whisky sectors, but our wider supply chains of cooperages, farmers, hospitality and retail.
“This outcome is testament to the strength of the enduring relationship between the UK and the US.
“On behalf of the Scotch Whisky industry, we are grateful to everyone who worked to make this happen, including His Majesty The King during his recent State Visit. We look forward to building on this positive momentum and working with partners on both sides of the Atlantic to ensure Scotch Whisky continues to thrive.”
Nodjame Fouad, of Pernod Ricard, said the move was “very welcome news for our industry”.
She said: “This move will improve access for American consumers to iconic Scotch whiskies such as The Glenlivet, while supporting businesses at home, and strengthening the long-standing trading relationship between the UK and US spirits industries.
“We now hope to see further progress made towards the removal of tariffs affecting other spirits and wine categories - including Irish Whiskey, Champagne and Cognac - to deliver benefits for consumers, producers and hospitality businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Mr Swinney said: “The industry was being harmed by the existence of tariffs from the United States.
“There’s obviously a range of other tariffs being applied by President Trump. But for Scotch whisky, the tariffs are gone.”
US trade representative ambassador Jamieson Greer said fresh charges on other products were being imposed on Britain and 59 other countries over claims they have not done enough to enforce bans items produced by forced labour.
However, under the rules the UK could be eligible for exemptions on products where it would encourage compliance in meeting this commitment.
The fresh tariffs came just hours before the temporary 10 per cent levies, which Britain was already facing, expired.
They were introduced after the Supreme Court overturned Mr Trump’s previous import tax regime in February.
He is now seeking a more durable system using a 1974 trade law.
The US administration says the levies are being slapped on 60 economies “for their failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour”.
It added that the action followed investigations by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which included public hearings, more than 2,100 public comments, and engagement with trading partners “to remedy these longstanding concerns”.
Mr Greer said: “President Trump recognises that decades of moral suasion have not eradicated forced labour from global supply chains.
“The United States has had a forced labour import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it. It’s well past time for our trading partners to do the same.
“Today’s action will begin to correct what is both a human rights abuse and distortive trade practice to improve the welfare of workers everywhere.
“I am encouraged by the trading partners who have moved quickly to adopt forced labour import prohibitions, and look forward to ensuring their effective enforcement.”
However, the USTR also said there would be product exemptions, where tariffs would lead to a shortage of raw materials domestically, cause economy-wide disruptions or where items cannot be grown or produced in sufficient quantity or at a reasonable price in the US.
There would also be an exemption for products from the UK and other named countries where “that would encourage these economies to fulfil commitments regarding forced labour import prohibitions or to enact and effectively enforce a forced labour import prohibition”.
Tariffs are paid by companies in the US which import foreign products and usually move to pass along the cost by charging consumers higher prices.
Americans are already frustrated by the high cost of living, so the administration is taking a risk in rolling out new tariffs ahead of the critical mid-term elections in November.
The UK exports more to the US than to any other single country.
In 2024, UK exports to the US were worth £66 billion, 17 per cent of all UK goods exports.
The Economic Prosperity Deal agreed between the two countries last year aimed to mitigate the impact of US tariffs on UK industries and deepen commercial ties.
A Government spokesperson said: “There is no change to the tariff rate facing UK businesses as a result of this announcement.
“The UK remains on a 10 per cent tariff rate and the preferential access secured under our agreement with the United States remains in place.
“We take forced labour very seriously and ensure that in global supply chains UK businesses are not complicit in forced labour and human rights violations.
“The US has recognised the steps the UK is taking, which is why there are no additional tariffs for the UK under this announcement.”
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