Whisky makers have thanked the King for helping to persuade Donald Trump to end tariffs on Scotch after the change came into effect yesterday. Distillers said His Majesty’s efforts during a state visit to the US in April would strengthen exports already worth nearly £1billion a year. John Swinney predicted a ‘significant benefit’ for the industry despite the US President imposing a new round of other tariffs yesterday. The deal also means US bourbon and the £200million of Kentucky bourbon casks imported to the UK each year to mature Scotch will come free of tariffs. Scotch Whisky Association international director Ian Duddy said: ‘The return of tariff-free trade for Scotch whisky in the US is welcome news for businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.

'As Scotch whisky’s most valuable global market, worth £933million in 2025, the removal of tariffs provides greater confidence to invest, grow exports, and support jobs and communities across Scotland and the US. ‘From Kentucky to Speyside, this will not only benefit the Scotch and US whisky sectors, but our wider supply chains of cooperages, farmers, hospitality and retail. ‘On behalf of the Scotch whisky industry, we are grateful to everyone who worked to make this happen, including His Majesty The King during his recent state visit.’

Mr Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on single malt for 18 months in his first presidency, which lost the industry an estimated £600million in exports. He imposed a 10 per cent levy at the start of his second term last year, and it had been due to go back to 25 per cent this year. But he dropped the plan after the visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla, saying he had taken ‘all the restrictions off’ in ‘honour’ of the royal couple.

Mr Swinney said: ‘This is a win for Scotland and a win for the United States.’ Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said he was joining ‘all those raising a dram today for the efforts to reach this point’. The whisky industry supports 41,000 jobs in Scotland and a further 25,000 across the UK, with the US accounting for a fifth of exports by value. The US Supreme Court declared Mr Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs illegal this year. But his administration has imposed fresh import duties on more than 60 countries, including the UK, on the pretext they failed to crack down on forced labour.