John Swinney has called a press conference following a meeting with Donald Trump during his trip to Washington, D.C.
The First Minister met Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday to fight for “the very best deal possible for Scotland” on whisky tariffs.
The 50-minute meeting took place ahead of the President’s state visit to the UK next week.
Swinney travelled to the United States for a series of trade and political meetings to argue that Scotch whisky should be exempt from the standard 10% duty charge when it is imported to the USA.
It was hoped that zero-for-zero tariffs on spirits could be reached as part of the ongoing UK-US trade negotiations.
In a video posted to X, he confirmed he and Trump discussed whisky tariffs, in particular, the possibility of no tariffs on Scotch whisky.
Swinney said: “With the US state visit to the UK just days away, we are now entering the critical days on which hopes of a better tariff deal for Scotch whisky rest.
Scottish Government“Scotch whisky holds a unique position, as it can only legally be produced in Scotland. During my discussions with President Trump, I made the case to reduce the tariffs on the Scotch whisky industry – something the US industry supports.
“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.
“The negotiations themselves are, of course, for the UK negotiating team, but given whisky exports to the US were worth almost £1bn in 2024, its importance to the Scottish economy cannot be underestimated, and I am determined to do all that I can to protect and safeguard this iconic Scottish product.”
Prior to the meeting at the White House, the First Minister met representatives and member companies of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (Discus) and the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) at Mount Vernon, the home of US founding father George Washington and the site of a whisky distillery he opened in 1798 which was operated by his Scottish farm hand, James Anderson.
Industry leaders have said the current tariffs are costing £4m a week and that over 1,000 jobs have been lost as a consequence of US tariffs and high tax and regulations in the UK.
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” and that he wasn’t aware of the issues with whisky tariffs when STV News first asked him about it.
Prior to the meeting, 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.”
The First Minister will begin the conference at 2.30pm on Wednesday.
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