John Swinney to visit US for Scotch whisky talks

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BBC Scotland News political editor Glenn Campbell reports that First Minister John Swinney is gearing up for a trip to the United States in hopes of securing better trade terms for Scotch whisky. President Donald Trump recently imposed a 10% tariff on whisky and other UK goods entering the US market, prompting the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) to advocate for an exemption or relaxation of these rules to protect their lucrative exports.

The SWA, in collaboration with its US counterpart, emphasized that approximately one-fifth of all Scotch whisky is exported to the US, amounting to a market worth £971 million in 2024, with the tariffs causing a weekly industry loss of £4 million. Both the Scottish and UK governments are said to be standing behind the SWA’s initiative to address this issue and explore potential solutions for the benefit of the whisky industry.

This will mark Swinney’s second visit to the US this year, following his attendance at Tartan Week celebrations in New York back in April. During his previous encounters with President Trump, Swinney raised concerns directly with him regarding the whisky tariffs. With Trump’s upcoming state visit to the UK in the pipeline, Swinney aims to push for further discussions on the matter before the president’s arrival from 17 to 19 September. Facilitated by the Scottish government, a series of meetings have been scheduled for Swinney in and around Washington DC, although any conclusive agreements are not anticipated during the brief visit.

Supported by the UK embassy in Washington DC and UK ambassador Lord Mandelson, Swinney’s diplomatic mission seeks to address the challenges facing the whisky industry amidst the current trade landscape. While the UK faces its own set of tariffs on various goods – ultimately impacting US consumers – EU nations are grappling with a higher tariff rate of 15%, further complicating the global trade dynamics at play

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