First Minister John Swinney flies to Washington on mission to reduce whisky tariffs

The First Minister is flying to Washington to try to reduce import tariffs on Scotch whisky in the US.

John Swinney will meet industry and political leaders in the American capital tomorrow.

This is a last minute trip and comes ten days ahead of Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK.

The UK/US trade deal secured a 10% floor for most things imported to the US from the UK.

It’s better than the deals secured by most other countries.

But the First Minister says he will do anything he can to get a better deal on Scotch whisky – which can only be made in Scotland.

When President Trump was in Scotland over the summer, STV News asked him if he would take another look at the tariff deal on whisky.

He said he wanted Scotland “to thrive”. The US President wasn’t aware of the issues with whisky tariffs when STV News first asked him about it.

Asked about Scotland’s national drink ahead of the meetings, Trump said: “I didn’t know whisky was a problem.

“I’m not a big whisky drinker but maybe I should be.”

Any cut in the tariff would be worth millions and could boost jobs.

The First Minister is meeting the UK Ambassador Lord Mandelson and staying at the UK Embassy in Washington on Monday night.

He has meetings with industry and political leaders on Tuesday. It’s not clear if he will meet President Trump.

But Swinney is being accompanied by the managing director of the Isle of Harris distillery.

Trump’s mother is from Harris. He said, “that’s serious Scotland”, and whisky is serious business.

Ahead of his trip, the First Minister said: “During President Trump’s visit to Scotland in July, we succeeded in putting whisky firmly on the trade agenda and I pledged to do whatever I could to help get a better tariff deal.

“The negotiations themselves are, of course, for the UK negotiating team but during this trip we are partnering with industry to promote the interests of Scotch Whisky – a key economic interest and iconic Scottish product – and make the case for a better tariff deal.

“We will argue that the reduction of tariffs is in the interests of the United States as well as Scotland. The United States is the largest market for Scotch whisky but Scottish distillers also spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year buying Bourbon casks from Kentucky.

“With President Trump’s state visit imminent, these are critical days on which hopes of a better tariff deal for Scotch Whisky rest. We are here to make sure we have done everything possible to get the best deal for Scotland.”