Scotland's Minister pushes US whisky tariff removal

First Minister John Swinney is in Kentucky on Monday, aiming to secure the removal of United States tariffs on Scotch whisky following a commitment earlier this year from President Donald Trump. The visit focuses on strengthening economic ties between Scotland’s whisky industry and Kentucky’s bourbon producers, a critical step for a sector where exports to the U.S., its largest overseas market worth nearly one billion pounds annually, have recently declined.

The trip follows Swinney’s attendance in Boston over the weekend for Scotland's first men's football World Cup match in 28 years, a 1-0 victory over Haiti. The Kentucky leg of his U.S. visit is dedicated to trade, specifically building on President Trump’s May announcement that he would remove a 10 percent tariff on whisky imports. Swinney stated that the tariff removal presents an essential opportunity for both the Scotch and bourbon industries to prosper and expand, calling it a win-win for both sides of the Atlantic.

In Kentucky, the First Minister's schedule includes meetings with American spirits industry leaders, a co-hosted lunch with sector representatives, and tours of facilities including Kentucky Cooperage and a...