Swinney presses Trump for whisky tariff relief in Washington

Scotland’s first minister has met the US president to argue for the removal of 10% tariffs on Scotch, which the industry says cost £4million a week. 

Constructive talks in the Oval Office

First Minister John Swinney has held talks with US President Donald Trump at the White House over tariffs on Scotch whisky.

The US has applied a 10% levy on whisky and most other UK goods entering its market. According to the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), the duty is costing the industry about £4m each week. The trade body estimates the tariffs could strip £200m a year from Scotch exports, with around a fifth of all Scotch sold into the US. That market was worth £971m in 2024.

Swinney said the meeting with Trump was “constructive” and argued for a “zero for zero” tariff arrangement, which he claimed would benefit producers on both sides of the Atlantic. He highlighted that the Scotch and US bourbon industries are aligned in seeking lower barriers, noting that bourbon casks are exported to Scotland for maturation.

Graeme Littlejohn, SWA director, told the BBC that the tariffs were damaging both industries: “We’re seeing less Scotch whisky going into the market and we’re seeing damage done to the industry. That means less trade to not only those cask manufacturers – those cooperages – but also to wholesale distribution and hospitality across the United States.”

He added that over the course of Trump’s second term, bourbon barrel exports to Scotland had been worth US$1.2bn (£880m).

Political backdrop

Swinney had previously raised the issue with Trump during his July visit to Scotland, but the president downplayed the extent of those talks. With Trump due to make a state visit to the UK from 17 to 19 September, Swinney described this week’s meeting as a “critical chance” to press the case.

The Oval Office discussion, which lasted around 50 minutes, also covered international issues including the conflict in Gaza. Swinney was accompanied by UK ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson, who is hosting him in Washington DC.

The UK government formally negotiates trade policy and has already secured a 10% tariff rate on UK goods entering the US – lower than the 15% applied to EU products. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is seeking further concessions.

Wider impact on the drinks trade

db reported in August that Trump’s tariffs on European wine and spirits could increase bar prices for US consumers, with Scotch rising by as much as $1 per drink. The analysis suggested that wholesale prices for imported spirits could climb sharply, with knock-on effects for consumers and jobs across the hospitality sector.

While Swinney’s lobbying has secured dialogue in Washington, whether the White House will ease the tariff burden ahead of Trump’s UK state visit remains uncertain.

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