Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, has announced he will press President Donald Trump to exempt Scotch whisky from newly imposed US tariffs, highlighting the spirit’s unique Scottish heritage and its critical role in the country’s economy. The call comes as a 10% tariff on UK exports, including whisky, threatens the industry with multi-million pound weekly losses.
The new tariffs, which came into effect this month, were introduced by President Trump as part of a broader trade agenda. Swinney underscored that Scotch whisky is not only central to Scotland’s export economy – worth nearly £1billion in sales to the US in 2024 alone – but is also a product that can only be made in Scotland, deserving of special consideration.
“It can only be produced in Scotland. It’s not a product that can be produced in any other part of the world. There’s a uniqueness about that, which means there is a case for it to be taken out of the tariffs arrangement,” Swinney explained.
The Scotch Whisky Association estimates such tariffs cost the sector more than £4million a week, based on past rounds of US levies, and industry leaders have warned of “damaging setbacks” for smaller distilleries reliant on access to American markets. Whisky exports to the US suffered a 30% drop when Trump first imposed tariffs in 2019 – a move only paused in 2021 – resulting in over £600million in lost sales during that earlier period.
You Might Also Like:
As he prepares to meet President Trump, who is visiting Scotland privately, Swinney plans to make a robust case on behalf of the Scotch whisky industry, describing the US as both the largest and most valuable export market for the spirit.
He has pledged to work closely with industry representatives and the UK Government, while warning that the imposition of tariffs risks slowing growth, threatening jobs, and undermining one of Scotland’s most celebrated products.
Despite the challenging global economic climate, Swinney remains committed to strengthening economic ties with the United States. He describes this exemption plea as an opportunity to secure the future and prosperity of Scotland’s vital whisky sector.
