‘Real chance’ of whisky tariff deal with Trump, says Swinney

Scottish First Minister John Swinney says there is now a “real chance” of securing a special trade deal for Scotch whisky after talks with US President Donald Trump at the White House.

The Scottish government is pressing for the removal or reduction of 10% tariffs on Scotch exports to the US, which the industry says cost businesses about £4m a week. The US is Scotch’s biggest export market, worth around £1bn last year.

Swinney, who met Trump during a two-day visit to Washington DC, said whisky had not been on the president’s “radar” until he raised it with him in Scotland earlier this summer. “A better deal for whisky was not previously on the agenda – and it now very much is,” he told reporters, urging the UK government to “get a deal over the line.”

Trump introduced the 10% levy earlier this year as part of his wider tariff policy. Although lower than the EU’s 15% rate, the Scotch Whisky Association warns the duty hurts both Scottish distillers and the US bourbon industry, which exports about £220m worth of barrels to Scotland each year.

Swinney said Trump took his arguments “very seriously” during their 50-minute Oval Office meeting, though he cautioned that the president “believes in tariffs” and negotiations would not be easy.

The Oval Office talks also touched on the conflict in Gaza and US air strikes in Qatar. Swinney was accompanied by UK ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson, who has faced questions over past ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

The timing is sensitive: Trump is due to make a state visit to the UK next week, while a previous 25% tariff on single malt Scotch, suspended under Joe Biden, is set to expire next summer. The industry is calling for a permanent settlement to avoid the higher rate being reimposed.