President Trump said Thursday he will be removing a 10% tariff he imposed last year on Scottish whiskeys in honor of this week’s visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, a major trade win for Britain.
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“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 U.S.A.”
The Trump administration imposed the sweeping duties in April 2025, causing shipments to the US to drop by 15% between May and December of that year, according to the Scottish Whiskey Association.
The British have pushed for the whisky tariff to be removed since it was first introduced. Among their arguments: it would benefit US bourbon producers who also use casks for production.
Trump referenced that argument when he explained his decision, saying the tariff stopped the barrel trade between Kentucky and Scotland.
“They use the barrels from the one, take care of the other, and the barrels are only good for one year. In other words, they can’t be used twice. They can only be used once. But the once makes it, makes it a better substance and a better taste,” he said. The president famously doesn’t consume alcohol, noting: “I’m not a big drinker.”
The news was warmly received on the American side.
Chris Swonger, president of the Distilled Spirits Council, said the tariff removal is “a major victory for American hospitality businesses that are deeply impacted by international trade.”
“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,” he noted.
