Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that any reduction in US tariffs on Scotch whisky would be a result of the diligent efforts of UK negotiators, not from a recent meeting between Scottish First Minister John Swinney and US President Donald Trump. Starmer emphasized that trade deal improvements are achieved through sustained negotiations and relationship building, dismissing Swinney's Oval Office meeting as a mere "photo opportunity."
The UK Government is actively pursuing improvements to a US trade deal that imposes a 10 percent tariff on most UK exports, including whisky, which is the UK's most valuable food and drink export. This tariff is estimated to cost the Scotch whisky industry approximately £4 million per week, significantly impacting its sales in the US, its largest market by value.
John Swinney had claimed that his meeting with Donald Trump brought the issue of a better whisky deal onto the agenda, a statement that was criticized by the Scottish Secretary, Douglas Alexander. Alexander asserted that UK ministers and officials had been engaged in extensive discussions on the whisky tariff for months and that Swinney was aware of these ongoing talks, accusing him of playing politics.
Starmer reiterated that the "hard yards of negotiation" are what secure trade deals, citing progress with India and ongoing efforts with the US concerning whisky tariffs. He also highlighted the UK Government's ... download the app to read more
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