President Donald Trump has announced his intention to remove the US tariff on imports of scotch into the country following the visit this week of the King and Queen of the UK.
The decision, announced by the president late yesterday (above), should result in the removal on the levy of 10% on scotch at an unspecified point in the future. The president said in a social media post that King Charles and Queen Camilla, who have been in the US in recent days, had “got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking!”
The post prompted a raft of industry responses, led by the Scotch Whisky Association. Highlighting the significant boost” the industry can expect “in our most valuable export market”, the organisation’s CEO, Mark Kent, said: “We are hugely grateful for the sustained efforts on both sides of the Atlantic. For months, many have worked tirelessly to return zero-for-zero tariff trade for whisky and bourbon. The special relationship that the scotch whisky and American whiskey industries share will be reinvigorated by this announcement.
“While challenges in our sector remain, we can now redouble our efforts to boost the benefits our two great industries bring to communities across Scotland and the US.”
The Distilled Spirits Council of the US (Discus) followed shortly afterwards, with CEO Chris Swonger adding: “We are thrilled to see President Trump’s Truth Social post and thank him for his leadership on this issue.
“We applaud President Trump for working to restore a proven zero‑for‑zero model of fair, reciprocal trade between our two nations. 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.”
Similarly, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association welcomed the restoration of “reciprocal, tariff-free trade between our historic spirits”.
“While Kentucky bourbon continues to face its fair share of challenges, this development is welcome news for our signature industry’s ongoing efforts to share America’s only native spirit with enthusiasts around the world,” added association president Eric Gregory.
The recently-founded American Whiskey Association, meanwhile, recognised “the hard work and sustained advocacy of the Scotch Whisky Association, Irish Whiskey Association, UK Spirits Alliance and the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States in advancing fair spirits trade”. CEO Michael Bilello said: “Their leadership helped keep zero-for-zero spirits trade, market access and the broader value of the global spirits network at the centre of the conversation.”
In figures for 2025 released by the SWA in February, scotch exports to the US over the 12 months were down 4% year-on-year, with the organisation blaming “the acute effect of the 10% tariff, which took effect from April.
