Trump Lifts Tariffs on Scotch in Parting Gift to King Charles

President Donald Trump is lifting the 10% tariff on whiskey from Britain, as a parting gift to King Charles at the end of his four-day royal visit to the United States.

“The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking!” Trump declared Thursday on Truth Social.

“I will be removing the Tariffs and Restrictions on Whiskey having to do with Scotland’s ability to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky on Whiskey and Bourbon, two very important Industries within Scotland and Kentucky,” Trump said. “People have wanted to do this for a long time, in that there had been great Inter-Country Trade, especially having to do with the Wooden Barrels used.”

The news was celebrated in Kentucky.

“For generations, Kentucky and Scotland have been close partners in crafting the world’s most sought-after whiskies,” Kentucky Distillers’ Association President Eric Gregory said in a statement. “This action restores reciprocal, tariff-free trade between our historic spirits and is especially important for Kentucky, as Scotch distillers have long been the largest export market for Kentucky’s used bourbon barrels.”

Chris Swonger, president and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council, said the national trade association was “very pleased” with the president’s decision.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., agreed the announcement was “welcome news,” noting that “95% of the world’s bourbon is produced in the Commonwealth.”

On the other side of the Atlantic, British trade minister Peter Kyle also welcomed the move, saying, “This is great news for our Scotch whisky industry, which is worth almost £1 billion in exports and supports thousands of jobs across the U.K.”

The world’s top spirits maker and owner of the Johnnie Walker brand, Diageo, said Friday it “warmly” welcomed the news that the U.S. and Britain had agreed to restore tariff-free trade for Scotch whisky. Diageo’s stock rose 3% in Friday morning trading.

King Charles himself “sends his sincere gratitude” for the decision, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said. “His Majesty will be raising a dram to the President’s thoughtfulness and generous hospitality as he departs the U.S. after a most enjoyable state visit for both Their Majesties in this special anniversary year.”

Reuters contributed to this report.