US President Donald Trump has announced that he will abolish all tariffs and restrictions on whisky imports as a gesture in honour of King Charles and Queen Camilla’s state visit to the United States.
He indicated that the decision would also allow greater cooperation between Scotland and the US state of Kentucky in the production of whisky and bourbon.
The UK government confirmed that the move covers all whisky-related tariffs, including those affecting Irish whiskey.
Industry figures welcomed the development, saying distillers would now be able to “breathe a little easier during a period of significant pressure on the sector.”
According to Trump, the royal visit influenced his decision more than anything else. He said it “got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking.”
The King and Queen spent four days in the US on an official trip hosted by Trump, with visits to Washington DC, New York, and Virginia before departing on Thursday.
Buckingham Palace responded by expressing the King’s “sincere gratitude” to the US president, adding that he would “be raising a dram to the President’s thoughtfulness.”
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney described the development as “tremendous news for Scotland,” while also thanking the King for his influence in the decision. He noted that “millions of pounds were being lost every month from the Scottish economy.”
Describing the move as a “wonderful honour,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that it was made to recognise “the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, who have just left the White House, soon headed back to their wonderful country.”
He explained that the tariffs had limited trade between Scotland and Kentucky, particularly in whisky and bourbon production, which he described as key industries for both regions. He also highlighted the connection through the reuse of wooden barrels in production.
Kentucky’s used bourbon barrels are a major input for Scotland’s Scotch whisky industry, with imports worth around £200 million annually.
Trump further said: “The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking! A wonderful honour to have them both in the USA.”
Speaking later at a press briefing, he confirmed: “I just took all the restrictions off, so Scotland and Kentucky can start dealing again. And I did it in honour of the King and Queen who just left.”
Both the UK and Scottish governments had previously pushed for a reduction or removal of the 10 percent tariff, arguing it would support distillers on both sides of the Atlantic.
The tariffs, introduced under the Trump administration, had increased import costs and weighed on Scotland’s whisky exports, its largest overseas market being the United States.
At one point, American tariffs on single malts suspended four years ago were expected to return with an additional 25 percent charge, unless a new agreement was reached. Single malt whisky, which commands premium prices, remains a vital export segment for the US market.