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Fri, 24 Jul 2026

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 Scotch whisky levy lifted as Trump imposes new wave of US tariffs

The Scottish government welcomed the lifting of the 10% levy, which the US President agreed after the state visit of King Charles.

* Trump agreed to lift whisky tariffs after King Charles' state visit to the US in April
* Scotland's First Minister John Swinney welcomed the move, calling it a "win on both sides of the Atlantic"
* The deal will also see US bourbon and casks arriving in the UK tariff-free
* The Scottish government estimates that the tariffs had cost the industry about £150m
* The removal of tariffs is seen as a positive relationship between the US and UK
* First Minister Swinney claimed credit for raising the issue with President Trump during a previous meeting, but opponents accused him of taking credit over King Charles
* The deal benefits both Scotland and the US economy, creating jobs and boosting trade