Donald Trump could lift trade sanctions against Scotch whisky imports into America in his final few days in office.
The outgoing US president’s trade chief Robert Lighthizer is negotiating with the UK to secure a mini trade deal.
Lighthizer suggested tariffs on Scotch whisky could be cut if a post-Brexit deal is successful.
A tariff of 25 per cent has been imposed on US imports of Scotch whisky since October 2019 when the industry was caught up in a tit-for-tat trade war following a row over subsidies to aerospace firms.
Lighthizer told the BBC: “I’m talking to [International Trade Secretary] Liz Truss, about trying to work out some kind of a deal but we don’t have a lot of time left.”
