Donald Trump has promised to lift tariffs on whisky imported to the US, “in honour” of the King’s visit.
Posting to Truth Social, Trump said he would lift all “tariffs and restrictions” on Scotland’s ability to work with the state of Kentucky on whisky and bourbon.
British officials have been trying to secure an exemption from tariffs for the spirit for nearly a year.
“The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking,” Trump said. The president is a noted enthusiast for royalty, and has previously called himself a “big fan” of King Charles.
The deal will be a significant boost for Scotch whisky in its most valuable export market, according to Scotch Whisky Association chief Mark Kent.
In a time when significant pressure is on the industry, “distillers can breathe a little easier,” he said.
“We are hugely grateful for the sustained efforts on both sides of the Atlantic. For months, many have worked tirelessly to return zero-for-zero tariff trade for whisky and bourbon. The special relationship that the Scotch whisky and American whiskey industries share will be reinvigorated by this announcement.”
Scotland’s first minister John Swinney likewise praised the deal as a “tremendous success”.
The UK government has confirmed the removal of tariffs applies to all whisky tariffs, including Irish Whiskey.
King Charles and Queen Camilla landed in Washington DC earlier this week for his first official visit to the US as King, in which he spoke to US lawmakers about the historic ties between the two nations.
Among other appointments in a crowded itinerary, the King and Queen attended a garden party at the UK embassy, where the first tariff-free batch of beef was served as part of a traditional afternoon tea of sandwiches and scones.
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