JOHN Swinney is set to meet with US president Donald Trump this evening.
The First Minister is currently in Washington DC, where he is pushing for lower tariffs on Scotch whisky.
He will meet with Trump in the Oval Office at around 7pm on Tuesday, where he said he would "fight for the very best deal possible for Scotland".
Swinney said: "When President Trump came to Scotland in July, we raised Scotch whisky with him and got it on the trade deal agenda.
"Now, with just over a week to go before the President makes a state visit to the UK, we have a critical chance to follow up and make the case for a better deal.
“Scotch whisky holds a unique position, as it can only legally be produced in Scotland. Scotch whisky and Kentucky bourbon have made common cause. This isn’t a case of US business versus imports to the US. Both agree that they want no tariffs. That’s a real strength."
The First Minister added: “Today’s discussions with the President are another chance to make that case and to fight for the very best deal possible for Scotland.”
It is understood that the meeting will last around 30 minutes.
The First Minister is set to return to Scotland on Tuesday night, after arriving on Monday evening.
Earlier on Tuesday, Swinney met representatives and member companies of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) and the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) to make the case for lower whisky tariffs.
They met at Mount Vernon, the home of US founding father George Washington and the site of a whiskey distillery he opened in 1798, and which was operated by his Scottish farm hand James Anderson.
Swinney also held meetings with Lord Peter Mandelson, the UK's ambassador to the US –whose residence in the UK embassy he also stayed in on Monday night – along with senior UK officials directly involved in the ongoing UK-US trade talks.
The First Minister is also expected to meet the co-chairs of the bipartisan group Bourbon Caucus, Representatives Andy Barr and Morgan McGarvey, before departing for Scotland.
