Donald Trump makes Scotch whisky 'didn't know' comment as he meets Sir Keir Starmer at Turnberry
The US President said he was not aware ‘whisky was a problem’
Donald Trump said he will “take a look” at whisky tariffs ahead of a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at his Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire, where he spoke about his love for Scotland and his desire to see the country “thrive”.
The US President made the comments as the pair sat down for bilateral talks touching on trade, Gaza and other issues. Mr Trump told journalists he was not aware that whisky tariffs, which are costing the industry £4 million a week, were a problem.
First Minister John Swinney has pledged to raise the issue when he meets Mr Trump, arguing the “uniqueness” of whisky made in Scotland justifies an exemption from the 10 per cent tariff applied on UK exports into the US.
Speaking to journalists on the steps of his Turnberry resort, flanked by Sir Keir and his wife Victoria, Mr Trump said whisky tariffs would be discussed.
“We’ll talk about that,” he said. “I didn’t know whisky was a problem. I’m not a big whisky drinker, but maybe I should be.” Asked if the 10 per cent tariff is a floor, he said: “Well, we’re going to take a look at it.”
Mr Trump later emphasised his connection to Scotland. His mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born and brought up on the Hebridean island of Lewis but emigrated to New York.
"I have great love for Scotland,” the US President said. “My mother loved Scotland, and she loved the Queen."
He added: "Religiously, she would come back to Scotland once a year with my sister Maryanne primarily, and sometimes my sister Elizabeth also.
"They loved this part of the world. We're talking about the Isle of Lewis, we're talking about serious Scotland. That's serious Scotland, there was no doubt about it. So yeah, it gives me a feeling."
He continued: "It's different when your mother was born here.”
Following his talks with the Prime Minister, Mr Trump was again pushed on whether there was a better trade deal to be done for Scottish businesses such as whisky. "I assume when we do our trade deal overall, a lot of it comes to Scotland, I hope,” he said, before joking: “Maybe all of it should go to Scotland."
The US President added: "This is a part of the world I want to see thrive. It's going to thrive."
In a joint statement, Mark Kent, chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, and Chris Swonger, chief executive of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, said: "The President's commitment this afternoon to look at the tariffs on Scotch whisky ahead of his meeting with the Prime Minister is very welcome.
"The Scotch whisky and US whiskey industries are close partners and we stand shoulder to shoulder on the issue of tariffs, calling for a permanent return to zero for zero trade which has driven the success of our industries.
“We look forward to the delivery of a deal which secures zero tariff trade for our products on both sides of the Atlantic."
Mr Swinney previously told BBC Breakfast: “Tariffs are very important for the Scottish economy and obviously scotch whisky is a unique product.
“It can only be produced in Scotland. It’s not a product that can be produced in any other part of the world. So there’s a uniqueness about that, which I think means there is a case for it to be taken out of the tariffs arrangement that is now in place.
“Obviously the trade deal with the United States provides a degree of stability for economic connections with the United States, but the application of tariffs is increasing the costs for the Scotch whisky industry.
“So one of my objectives will be to make the case to President Trump that Scotch whisky should be exempted from those tariffs.
“It’s a product that is uniquely produced in Scotland, and it’s a product that is much welcomed and supported within the United States. And I think there’s a really good case for exempting Scotch whisky, and this is an opportunity that I have to put that case to President Trump on behalf of the Scotch whisky industry, which is a significant part of the Scottish economy.
“And the tariffs just now are costing the industry about £4 million each week, so it’s a very significant burden on the industry. It would help growth and development within the Scottish economy if we could secure that deal. And, obviously, I’ll be using every opportunity I have to try to put that across to President Trump.”
Mr Trump’s five-day visit to Scotland is largely a private one that has seen the president play golf at his course at Turnberry in Ayrshire ahead of opening a new course at his property in Aberdeenshire on Tuesday. However, he is also holding a series of high-profile political talks.
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