First Minister John Swinney has confirmed that US tariffs on Scotch whisky have now been fully removed, telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the change is now in effect and represents a major boost for the industry.
Speaking this morning, Swinney said there were no longer any tariffs on Scotch whisky entering the United States, describing it as a significant benefit for the sector. He confirmed that, whatever the position on other goods, the tariff burden on Scotch whisky specifically has been lifted.
A Long-Running Campaign
The removal follows a sustained lobbying effort by Swinney, the Scottish Government and the Scotch Whisky Association, dating back over a year. Swinney raised the issue directly with President Trump during the president's visit to his Scottish golf resorts, and again during meetings at the White House ahead of the president's state visit to the UK. Trump had initially appeared not to prioritise the issue, but Swinney said over the summer he made sure whisky "got the attention that it needs."
The president ultimately announced he would remove the tariff around the time of the state visit by the King and Queen, framing the move as a gesture tied to the visit. The 10% rate had applied to Scotch whisky since it was introduced as part of wider US tariffs on UK goods, and had cost the industry an estimated £4 million a week according to industry figures.
Industry Reaction
The Scotch Whisky Association welcomed the confirmation that tariff-free trade has returned. Ian Duddy, the association's international director, said the change gives businesses on both sides of the Atlantic greater confidence to invest, grow exports and support jobs, describing the US as Scotch whisky's most valuable global market, worth £933 million in 2025.
Duddy also pointed to the wider supply chain benefits, noting that the relationship between the Scotch and US whisky sectors extends beyond direct sales into areas such as cask supply, cooperages, farming, hospitality and retail on both sides of the Atlantic.
Why It Matters
The US has consistently been the largest single export market for Scotch whisky, with around a fifth of all exports heading there in recent years. Export values had already been under pressure, falling in both value and volume terms since the tariff came into effect, making its removal a priority for the industry and for the Scottish Government, which has repeatedly highlighted whisky's economic importance to Scotland.
With the tariff now confirmed as removed, attention is likely to turn to how quickly exporters can recover lost ground in the US market, and whether the reduction feeds through to renewed investment in production and distribution on both sides of the trade relationship.
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