Industry voices welcome end to US whisky tariffs

Reaction from across the whisky sector has been swift following confirmation by Donald Trump that tariffs and restrictions on whisky imports will be removed after the state visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Executives are enjoying renewed confidence while awaiting details on how quickly the changes will take effect.

Nodjame Fouad, CEO of the Gold Brand Unit at Pernod Ricard, said the decision would ease pressure across the supply chain. “This is a welcome progression, which will bring relief to industry on both sides of the Atlantic, supporting our teams and partners while reinforcing the importance of open and stable trade. We hope that both governments can move quickly to bring this into force.”

Distillers look to US growth

At Isle of Harris Distillery, the removal of tariffs is seen as an opportunity to deepen ties with American consumers. The distillery pointed to growing demand for its single malt, The Hearach, and described the move as opening further potential in a key export market.

Ron MacEachran, executive chairman of Isle of Harris Distillery, said: “This is a very welcome signal for Scotch Whisky producers, including those of us building our presence in the United States, which remains the industry’s most valuable export market.

“There has been a huge amount of effort on both sides of the Atlantic to get to this point, reflecting the long-standing relationship between Scotch and American whiskey, which is so important to our shared success.

“It’s been a period of real pressure for distilleries, so the promise of a return to trade without tariffs in the USA offers some much-needed optimism, and the opportunity for the industry to plan ahead with greater confidence.

“As we wait for the details of how and when these changes will take effect, this announcement is an encouraging step forward. For an independent Outer Hebridean distillery like ours, increased access to the USA market has a direct impact on growth plans and allows us to support our island community with more confidence.

“We look forward to continuing to share a little bit of the Isle of Harris with customers in the USA through our whisky and gin, and to building on the strong cultural and economic ties between our two countries.”

Family producers welcome certainty

Ian Macleod Distillers also welcomed the development, describing it as an end to a period of disruption.

Ian Shackleton, sales and brand director at Ian Macleod Distillers, said: “This is great news for our company and for our industry. We can now put behind us the saga and disruption caused by the uncertainty of the past year. As a small, family-owned producer with some world-famous, multi-award-winning brands, the USA is a vital and growing marketplace for us. We have some excellent partners in North America and the freer we are to work with them, the better it is for all concerned.”

He added: “We are grateful to His Majesty The King for his support. We had the pleasure of serving him with our superb Rosebank Whisky earlier this year. Their efforts will have widespread and positive repercussions. We thank President Trump for his decision.”

Confidence for island distilleries

For smaller producers, particularly those based in remote communities, the implications extend beyond exports. Isle of Raasay Distillery described the announcement as a meaningful step for long-term planning.

William Dobbie, managing director of Isle of Raasay Distillery, said: “This is hugely positive news for the Scotch whisky industry and for independent distilleries like ours operating on a global stage.

“The US is one of our most important export markets, so the removal of tariffs not only eases immediate commercial pressure, but creates renewed confidence for future growth and investment.
“For island distilleries in particular, this kind of progress supports jobs, tourism and long-term sustainability within our communities. We’ll certainly be raising a dram to that.”

Awaiting details on implementation

While the response has been largely favourable, producers across the sector are watching closely for clarity on timing and implementation. As previously reported by the drinks business, the tariffs had contributed to falling exports and rising strain across the industry, particularly in its most valuable overseas market.

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