DISTILLERIES are holding out hope for US tariffs on whisky to be eliminated after Britain and America agreed a trade deal.
Donald Trump and Keir Starmer have announced a US-UK agreement which eliminates tariffs on a few products while continuing 10% rates on many UK exports to the States.
Whisky was not mentioned in the trade deal and is thought to still remain subject to a 10% export duty – which industry bosses have previously warned threatens livelihoods.
But the trade body representing the sector has given the removal of some tariffs as a sign other areas of the economy may also get exemptions in the future.
A spokesperson for the Scotch Whisky Association said: “The welcome progress for other sectors is a clear sign that the intensive efforts by the UK government is bearing fruit.
“We continue to support this measured and pragmatic approach in the weeks ahead so that Scotch whisky can return to the zero-for-zero tariff agreement with our friends and partners in the US whiskey industry as soon as possible.”
Elsewhere, British car exports for the first 100,000 vehicles will face tariffs of 10%, not 27.5%. The UK Government said this was “almost the total” number of UK-built cars exported to America last year.
Tariffs have also been reduced to zero on imports to the UK of ethanol and US tariffs on British steel have been eliminated.
