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Sun, 13 Sep 2026

Sun, 13 Sep 2026 Trump says he will remove all Irish whiskey tariffs as he ends two-day visit

Whiskey distilled in the Republic of Ireland faces the standard 15% tariff which applies to EU goods entering the US.
US President Donald Trump has announced that he will lift all tariffs on Irish whiskey during his two-day visit to Ireland. The move comes after Trump watched the final day of the Irish Open at his golf resort in Doonbeg, County Clare, where he presented the winner's trophy to Shane Lowry. The 15% tariff imposed on EU goods entering the US had previously affected Irish whiskey producers, while those based in Northern Ireland or the UK faced no tariffs. Trump made the announcement before handing over the trophy and said that he had discussed the issue with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Lowry himself. This development will end the advantage that some Northern Ireland distillers had over competitors in the Republic of Ireland, as producers north of the border were covered by a previous tariff cut on UK-made whiskey. However, newer distilleries bottling liquid produced by other companies would still face tariffs. In a separate development, Trump caused controversy during his visit by commenting that a united Ireland would be a "great thing". While some locals praised the benefits and jobs brought by Trump's golf course to the area, others expressed concerns about the impact of tourism on the local community. The visit has also sparked debate among Irish people, with some viewing it as an opportunity for economic growth while others are concerned about the implications of hosting a foreign leader.