RismadarVoice Reporters, May 1, 2026
U.S. President, Donald Trump has announced the removal of tariffs and trade restrictions affecting whiskey production and exports between the United States and Scotland, following a high-profile visit by the King and Queen of the United Kingdom to the White House.
In a statement issued shortly after the royal visit, Trump said the decision was made in honour of the departing monarchs, describing the move as a long-awaited breakthrough in transatlantic trade relations.
“I will be removing the tariffs and restrictions on whiskey having to do with Scotland’s ability to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky on whiskey and bourbon,” he said, emphasising the economic importance of the industries to both regions.
The announcement is expected to benefit distillers in Scotland and producers in the U.S. state of Kentucky, where bourbon production is a major economic driver. Industry stakeholders have long advocated for reduced trade barriers, particularly those affecting the exchange of materials such as wooden barrels, a key component in whiskey ageing.
Trump suggested that the royal visit played a decisive role in securing the policy shift, noting that “the King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking.”
While details of the agreement and implementation timeline remain unclear, the move signals a potential reset in trade relations between the U.S. and the U.K., particularly in the spirits sector, which has faced tariffs and counter-tariffs in recent years.
The visit by the British monarchs to Washington marked a significant diplomatic engagement, underscoring ongoing economic and cultural ties between the two nations.
He further said that the removal of tariffs could boost exports, strengthen industry collaboration, and revive cross-border trade that had slowed amid previous disputes.
