King Charles will be raising a dram in celebration after US President Donald Trump announced the removal of tariffs on Scottish whisky. The decision came shortly after the King and Queen Camilla concluded their state visit to America.
Mark Kent, chief executive of the Scottish Distillers Association (SWA), said that distillers can now "breathe a little easier" following the announcement. The move vindicates Downing Street's decision to send the King on a trip that some had considered risky, aimed at repairing the UK-US special relationship.
Mr Trump stated that while "people have wanted to do this for a long time," it was the King and Queen who "got me to do something that nobody else was able to do." A Buckingham Palace spokesperson expressed the King's gratitude, noting that he will be "raising a dram to the president's thoughtfulness and generous hospitality."
Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle welcomed the news, highlighting that the Scotch whisky industry is worth almost £1 billion in exports and supports thousands of jobs. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper also praised the announcement, emphasizing months of work to secure this outcome.
The decision follows a period of tension between the White House and Number 10, with Mr Trump having criticized the Prime Minister over the US-Israeli war against Iran. However, the President developed a rapport with the King during the visit, praising Charles and the UK's historical ties with the US.
Mr Trump confirmed the news on Truth Social, stating he would remove tariffs on whisky to honor the King and Queen. The previous 25% tariff on Scotch between 2019 and 2021 cost the sector over £600 million, while current 10% tariffs were costing whisky firms £3 million in lost exports each week.
The SWA's Mr Kent expressed gratitude for the efforts on both sides of the Atlantic, stating that the special relationship between Scotch whisky and American whiskey industries will be reinvigorated by this announcement.
