Swinney says whisky tariffs expose wider threats to Scotland’s food exports

Scotland’s first minister used a speech to meat industry leaders on Thursday to link trade pressures on Scotch whisky with broader risks for the country’s food and drink exports, arguing that tariffs and other barriers are hurting sectors that depend on overseas markets.

Speaking at a Quality Meat Scotland breakfast during the Royal Highland Show, First Minister John Swinney said tariffs affecting whisky may draw the most attention, but similar pressures extend across food and drink, including the meat sector. He said the situation showed that trade barriers are not limited to one industry and called for a trade policy that reflects Scotland’s economic interests.

Swinney said the Scottish government would continue to press for the removal of tariffs and support market access for exporters. He also said ministers would keep promoting Scottish food and drink abroad in an effort to open new markets.

The remarks matter beyond farming because Scotch whisky is one of Scotland’s most important export industries, and any renewed tariff pressure from the United States can ripple through the wider drinks supply chain, including malted barley production and rural businesses tied to distilling. Swinney framed that risk as part of a wider post-Brexit trade problem affecting both agriculture and beverages.

In his speech, he described the agri-food sector as central to Scotland’s economy, heritage and culture, and said livestock farmers and producers were known internationally for beef, lamb, pork and other products. But he also said the sector was operating under strain from inflation, higher input costs and global economic uncertainty.

He attributed part of that pressure to trade disruption following Brexit, saying the tariff situation affecting key exports was a reminder of the impact of decisions taken by the U.K. government after leaving the European Union.

Swinney also outlined domestic priorities for the sector, including improving animal health and welfare, encouraging environmentally sustainable farming practices, and supporting innovation and digital transformation in agriculture. He said a new Scottish agri-food strategy, due later this year, would set out a framework for growth and sustainability across the sector.

According to Swinney, that strategy will build on the work of Quality Meat Scotland while aligning with Scotland’s wider goal of reaching net-zero emissions and supporting rural economies.

He also praised Quality Meat Scotland for its work on quality, traceability and assurance standards, saying those measures are important for consumer confidence and help Scottish meat stand out in a crowded market. Swinney said cooperation among government, industry groups and farmers would be necessary to address economic, environmental and social challenges facing rural Scotland.