Trump Says He’s Removing Certain Tariffs On Scotch Whisky After Royal Visit | EUROtoday

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump mentioned Thursday he’s eradicating sure tariffs on Scotch whisky after this week’s White House go to by King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom.

“The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking!” Trump posted on social media.

Trump mentioned individuals had wished this alteration, particularly with regard to the picket barrels by which the spirits of Scotch and bourbon will be aged.

Trump has used alcohol as a strain level in his tariff threats. Last 12 months, he threatened a 200% tariff on European wine — a significant potential blow to French and Italian vineyards that by no means got here to fruition.

Foreign international locations have responded in flip with threats on bourbon and different American merchandise.

In the top, the Trump administration exempted cork from tariffs, an enormous aid to Portugal, the main provider of the fabric used to cap wine bottles.

Chris Swonger, president and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council within the U.S., interpreted Trump’s submit as a removing of the ten% tariff on whisky from the United Kingdom.

“We applaud President Trump for working to restore a proven zero‑for‑zero model of fair, reciprocal trade between our two nations,” Swonger mentioned in a press release. “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.”