Trump says he's lifting certain tariffs on Scotch whisky after royal visit

Source: PBS News/AP

Apr 30, 2026 5:13 PM EDT


WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday he is removing certain tariffs on Scotch whisky after this week's White House visit 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 said people had wanted this change, especially with regard to the wooden barrels in which the spirits of Scotch and bourbon can be aged. His post left it unclear if the tariffs were being lifted on bottles of Scotch or on the materials used to produce alcohol in both countries.

"I will be removing the Tariffs and Restrictions on Whiskey having to do with Scotland's ability to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky on Whiskey and Bourbon," Trump said.

The White House did not respond to emails seeking clarification, though the post was interpreted in Scotland and by industry lobbyists as removing the tariffs on Scotch. The Trump administration in 2025 reached a trade framework that put a 10% tax on most goods imported from Britain. The Scotch Whisky Association said its export volume to the U.S. fell 15% after the tariffs were announced in April of last year.

Read more: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/trump-says-hes-lifting-certain-tariffs-on-scotch-whisky-after-royal-visit