In a gesture of diplomatic friendliness after King Charles’s visit to the White House, Donald Trump said the US would be removing all tariffs on whisky imports.
“In Honor of the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, who have just left the White House, soon headed back to their wonderful Country, 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,” Trump said in a post on social media.
The US and the UK signed a deal in 2025 allowing Washington to impose a 10% baseline tariff on imports of most British goods.
Trump wrote on Truth Social: “The King and Queen got me to do something nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking!”
The president called whisky and bourbon “two very important Industries within Scotland and Kentucky”.
He wrote: “People have wanted to do this for a long time, in that there had been great Inter-Country Trade, especially having to do with the Wooden Barrels used.”
The whisky market has suffered from higher levies and declining rates of alcohol consumption. The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) estimates the charges cost the industry £4m a week.
Last year, Diageo, the parent company of spirit brands including Johnnie Walker, Talisker and Lagavulin, said it would reduce production at some of its distilleries to balance out lower demand.
On Thursday, the SWA called the deal “a significant boost” for the industry.
“Distillers can breathe a little easier during a period of significant pressure on the sector,” the SWA said.
Though British prime minister Keir Starmer was able to negotiate a trade deal with Trump last May, the US left the 10% baseline tariff on most goods, including whisky, down from the 27.5% rate Trump initially announced.
The news comes after King Charles’s state visit. Charles received a warm welcome from the White House and Congress as he made a veiled plea to Trump to return to traditional alliances.
“America’s words carry weight and meaning, as they have since independence. The actions of this great nation matter even more,” Charles said in a speech before Congress, calling the relationship between the US and UK “truly unique”.
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