In light of a visit from the United Kingdom’s royal family, President Donald Trump announced the end of tariffs and restrictions on whiskey Thursday.
Trump said he is removing the tariffs on behalf of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, who concluded their historic four-day visit to the United States on Wednesday, after having visited the White House and U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. (RELATED: King Charles Skips Easter Message After Wishing Muslims A Happy Ramadan)
Trump also attributed the tariff suspension to Scotland’s ability to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky to reach an understanding on the trade of whiskey and bourbon, which Trump referred to as “two very important industries” within those regions.
“People have wanted to do this for a long time,” Trump said, adding that the inter-country trade has a lot to do with the wooden barrels used to store and transport the liquor.
Last April, Trump implemented a “reciprocal tariff” of 10% on most U.K. goods, including alcohol.
Britain’s King Charles III samples 25-year-old Glen Scotia Single Malt whisky during a reception at Campbeltown Town Hall, western Scotland, on July 3, 2025, on the third day of their Majesties The King and Queen’s visit to Scotland. (Photo by JANE BARLOW/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
In February, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) reported that exports to the U.S., the industry’s most valuable export market, had seen export volume fall by 15%, with a value loss of £933m due to the tariff.
The association also said the tariffs were predicted to possibly rise to 35% in July, but now the tariff will be cut completely.
In contrast, the U.K. and the U.S. struck a deal last May, allowing American spirits like bourbon to enter the U.K. without any tariffs in exchange for concessions in other sectors, such as beef and ethanol, according to The Drinks Business.
“The special relationship that the Scotch whisky and American whiskey industries share will be reinvigorated by this announcement,” the chief executive of the SWA, Mark Kent, said after the announcement Thursday. “While challenges in our sector remain, we can now redouble our efforts to boost the benefits our two great industries bring to communities across Scotland and the U.S.”
President & CEO of Distilled Spirits Council, Chris Swonger, told the Daily Caller in a statement that he was also thankful for Trump’s restoration of a zero‑for‑zero model trade between the two nations, framing it as a “major victory for American hospitality businesses” as they are also deeply impacted by international trade.
“The United States and the United Kingdom share a deep and enduring spirits tradition built on generations of craftsmanship, agriculture and market access,” Swonger said. “This action strengthens transatlantic ties, brings much‑needed certainty to our industry and allows spirits producers on both sides of the Atlantic to grow, invest and support jobs at a critical time.”
Kent also emphasized his gratitude to Trump and the work that was being done over the last several months to achieve this deal by those on both sides of the Atlantic.
“The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking!” Trump said. “A wonderful honor to have them both in the U.S.A.”