Republican President Donald Trump said Thursday he will remove tariffs to allow Kentucky bourbon distillers to more easily ship barrels to Scotland after King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited the U.S. this week.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said he will remove “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.”
“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 president said before adding that the monarchs “got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking!”
When making Scotch whisky, Scottish distillers often use bourbon barrels to age the product, which adds extra flavor like vanilla.
The Kentucky Distillers’ Association applauded the move, saying it “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.”
“Kentucky Bourbon is a cornerstone of our state’s economy, contributing over $10.6 billion annually and supporting nearly 24,000 jobs across the Commonwealth,” said KDA President Eric Gregory. “While Kentucky Bourbon continues to face its fair share of challenges, this development is welcome news for our signature industry’s ongoing efforts to share America’s only native spirit with enthusiasts around the world.”
Some Kentucky Republicans also praised Trump’s decision, including U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell. He noted the timing of the decision will precede the 152nd Kentucky Derby. The horse racing event takes place Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Many attendees opt to drink bourbon cocktails, like mint juleps.
McConnell said “95% of the world’s bourbon is produced in the Commonwealth and the industry employs more than 23,000 hardworking Kentuckians.”
“This move will give businesses the certainty they need to increase investment in Kentucky’s economy,” the senator added. “After more than a year of looming high prices and increased costs, Kentucky’s bourbon industry and the consumers that support it can be hopeful for the future.”
This article is republished under a Creative Commons license from Kentucky Lantern, which is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kentucky Lantern maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jamie Lucke for questions: info@kentuckylantern.com. Follow Kentucky Lantern on Facebook and Twitter.
McKenna Horsley covers state politics for the Kentucky Lantern. She previously worked for newspapers in Huntington, West Virginia, and Frankfort, Kentucky. She is from northeastern Kentucky.
