US President Donald Trump has announced the removal of tariffs and trade restrictions affecting whisky and bourbon exchanges between Scotland and the United States, in a move that could ease tensions in a long-standing transatlantic trade issue.
The decision, shared on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, was framed as a gesture of goodwill following a recent state visit to Washington by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. According to Trump, the royal visit helped reopen conversations around trade cooperation between key industries in both countries.
“In Honor of the King and Queen of the United Kingdom… I will be removing the Tariffs and Restrictions on Whiskey having to do with Scotland’s ability to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Trump wrote, highlighting the historic links between Scottish whisky producers and Kentucky’s bourbon industry.
A major point of discussion has been the shared supply chain between both regions, particularly the use of American oak barrels in whisky production and the deep commercial ties between distillers on both sides of the Atlantic.
The announcement comes after a period of trade tension, following earlier tariff measures introduced in 2025 that placed a baseline duty on a range of UK exports, including Scotch whisky. Industry groups had warned that the policy was putting pressure on distillers already navigating rising global costs and shifting demand.
Whisky producers, especially in Scotland, are expected to welcome the latest development, as the United States remains one of their most important export markets.
The timing also follows renewed diplomatic engagement between the US and UK, with the royal visit seen as part of broader efforts to reinforce economic and cultural ties between the two countries.
While details of the policy rollback are still expected to be clarified by trade officials, the announcement has already been described by industry observers as a significant relief for the whisky sector on both sides of the Atlantic.
