The President spoke with the First Minister for nine minutes after the American leader handed the whisky industry a massive boost.
John Swinney with Donald Trump in the Oval Office(Image: Chris Cieri / Scottish Government)
John Swinney thanked Donald Trump today after the President agreed to remove tariffs on Scotch whisky exported to the US.
The Republican leader rang the First Minister on Friday afternoon after handing a massive boost to distillers.
Trump had announced he would lift all restrictions on the sale of Scotland’s national drink in honour of the King and Queen’s state visit to America this week.
The President said the Royal visit “got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking”.
The Scottish and UK governments had both lobbied for the 10 per cent tariff rate to be reduced or removed on the basis it would benefit distillers on both sides of the Atlantic.
Speaking after his phone call with the President, Swinney said: “I was pleased to receive a call from the President of the United States this afternoon, which gave me the opportunity to thank him personally for ending the tariffs on Scotch Whisky.
“The President was clear that our discussions on the mutual benefit of this deal, and Scotland’s ability to work with the state of Kentucky, formed a very big part of his thinking. He said that he was pleased to be able to do this for Scotland, together with His Majesty The King.
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“We also briefly discussed international affairs, including the conflict in Iran.
“My primary duty as First Minister is to promote Scotland’s interests, and ensure that people’s jobs and livelihoods are protected. I am delighted that the hard work of all involved has now paid off.”
In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump said the move was “in honour of the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, who have just left the White House, soon headed back to their wonderful country”.
He said the tariffs and restrictions related to “Scotland’s ability to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky on Whiskey and Bourbon, two very important industries within Scotland and Kentucky”, and noted how the two areas were linked through the use of wooden barrels.
The main customer for Kentucky’s used bourbon barrels is the Scotch industry, which has been importing around £200m-worth each year.
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