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john swinney He has said that he would like to engage in trade talks between the UK and the US after meetings with the President donald trump about whiskey
first minister He has met with Mr Trump several times this year, advocating for tariff relief for the Scotch whiskey industry – the UK’s biggest drinks export.
As a result of Mr Trump’s desire for a levy, discussions are ongoing about imposing a 10% tariff on exports from the UK to the US.
Speaking to the US President during his visit earlier this year scotlandAfter Mr. Swinney put the issue of the Scotch industry on the table, Mr. Trump said he “didn’t know whiskey was a problem,” but appeared ready to move on the issue.
Speaking to the PA news agency ahead of the SNP conference in Aberdeen, the First Minister said: “I am not aware of the trade talks.
“I would like to be, because I think I’ve been really helpful in all of this.
“Earlier this year it was clear to me that whiskey did not really belong in trade negotiations at all, it was not a priority as a principle of negotiation UK government,
“Well, I had to make sure, because it really matters to Scotland.”
The trade is reserved for the UK government and the First Minister’s visit to Washington last month was facilitated by former ambassador Lord Peter Mandelson.
Reports emerged last week that whiskey could be exempted from US tariffs, but the First Minister said she had not heard any update.
He said, “We have sought dialogue from the UK government on trade talks and we have a certain amount of information, but nothing on details and I have no update on events because the last time I interacted with the Prime Minister was during the state banquet at Windsor Castle, when I had the opportunity to discuss this once again with President Trump and several senior members of President Trump’s administration.”
The First Minister argued that there was an incentive for the US to reduce the tariff, as the casks used to make Bourbon whiskey are sold to distilleries in Scotland to age their product, a decline in production here would mean a decline in demand for US casks.
“It’s a very valuable business – it’s worth $300 million a year,” he said.
“At the beginning of September when I was in the United States, I spoke to one of the companies that produces whiskey casks and their orders from Scotland were canceled because there is not enough production in Scotland for the casks coming from the United States.
“So, if we take all this out of the trade negotiations and say ‘let’s go zero for zero,’ we will see an improvement in the fortunes of Scotch whiskey and we will see an improvement in the fortunes of primarily the state of Kentucky and the interests of the Kentucky bourbon industry.”
A UK government spokesperson said: “We have used our trade agenda to promote our world-class Scotch whiskey industry, by consistently engaging with the US on this issue and by securing significant tariff cuts in our other trade deals, such as with India.
“Our deal in May ensured preferential access for Scotch whiskey to the US market compared to other major economies.
“We continue to work to ensure that this deal protects British jobs and exports as part of our transition plan.”