US President Donald Trump has announced the removal of tariffs and trade restrictions on whisky imports, describing the move as a gesture of goodwill following the recent state visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The decision is expected to provide significant relief to the Scotch whisky industry, which has faced mounting financial pressure due to ongoing trade barriers.
Speaking after the four-day visit, which included stops in Washington DC, New York, and Virginia, Trump said the presence of the British royals played a decisive role in influencing the policy shift. He remarked that the visit prompted him to take action “that nobody else was able to do,” emphasizing the symbolic importance of the gesture.
The rollback of tariffs applies broadly to whisky imports, with the UK government confirming that Irish whiskey will also benefit from the changes. In addition to lifting tariffs, the US has removed restrictions that had limited collaboration between Scotland’s whisky producers and the state of Kentucky’s bourbon industry. The move restores a key transatlantic trade link, particularly involving the exchange of used bourbon barrels, which are essential to Scotch whisky production. Scotland imports barrels worth around £200 million annually from Kentucky, underlining the importance of this trade relationship.
A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said the King expressed “sincere gratitude” for the decision and would mark the occasion with a celebratory dram. The announcement was also welcomed in Scotland, where First Minister John Swinneydescribed it as “tremendous news” for the country’s economy. He noted that the tariffs had been costing Scotland millions of pounds each month in lost revenue.
The tariffs, originally introduced during Trump’s administration, had imposed a 10% surcharge on whisky imports into the United States, Scotland’s largest export market. Additionally, a suspended 25% tariff on single malt Scotch whisky was expected to be reinstated, raising concerns within the industry about further losses. Single malts, often positioned as premium products, represent a significant portion of exports to the US.
Industry representatives have reacted positively to the development, highlighting the financial strain the tariffs had caused. According to the Scotch Whisky Association, the sector had been losing approximately £4 million per week in exports due to the trade barriers, amounting to around £150 million over the past year. The removal of tariffs is therefore seen as a critical step toward stabilizing the industry.
Graeme Littlejohn, a senior figure within the association, described the decision as a major boost, adding that distillers across Scotland would now “breathe a little easier.” He credited months of high-level negotiations for the breakthrough, suggesting that the royal visit may have served as the final catalyst in securing the agreement.
UK Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle also welcomed the move, noting that the Scotch whisky industry contributes nearly £1 billion in exports and supports thousands of jobs across the United Kingdom. The removal of tariffs is expected to strengthen trade ties between the US and UK while offering renewed momentum to one of Britain’s most iconic export sectors.
