Trump Says He Will Lift Tariffs on Scotch Whisky

President Donald Trump said Friday that he would remove tariffs on Scotch whisky, a move he described as a gesture of appreciation for King Charles III after the British monarch’s recent visit to the White House tied to the approaching 250th anniversary of American independence.

Trump announced the decision in a post on Truth Social, saying he would soon lift the tariffs and related restrictions that had limited Scotland’s ability to work with Kentucky on whisky and bourbon. He framed the step as a response to what he called long-standing pressure from the king and queen of the United Kingdom. “The kings convinced me to do something nobody else had been able to do,” Trump wrote, adding that he was acting in honor of the royal couple.

The president has often used tariffs as a foreign policy tool, but in this case he presented the change as part diplomacy and part personal tribute. He has previously referred to Charles III as “the greatest king,” signaling an unusual warmth toward the British monarch.

The announcement came as Washington and London have been trying to ease tensions that have grown in recent months over broader geopolitical disputes, including Britain’s refusal, along with some European allies, to join the U.S. and Israel in their war against Iran. The royal visit was officially linked to the anniversary celebrations, but it also served as an effort to strengthen ties between the two countries at a sensitive moment.

British officials quickly welcomed the move. Peter Kyle, Britain’s trade secretary, called it “great news” for Scotland’s whisky industry, which he said generates nearly 1 billion pounds in exports and supports thousands of jobs across the United Kingdom.

Diageo, the world’s largest spirits company and owner of Johnnie Walker, said it was pleased by news that the United States and Britain had agreed to restore tariff-free trade for Scotch whisky. A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said Charles expressed “sincere gratitude” for the decision and said it would make an important difference for the British whisky industry.

The palace also said the king would toast Trump’s hospitality when he left the United States after what it described as a highly pleasant state visit during a particularly significant anniversary year.