King Charles Thanks Trump for Whisky Tariff Move
King Charles III has welcomed President Donald Trump’s decision to remove tariffs and restrictions on Scottish whisky, with Buckingham Palace saying the move will bolster a major British export sector. The announcement followed the King and Queen Camilla’s state visit to the United States, which included a farewell ceremony at the White House.
In a palace statement, Hello Magazine reported that the King sent his “sincere gratitude” for a decision that would make “an important difference” to the whisky industry and the livelihoods it supports, adding that His Majesty would be “raising a dram” to the president’s hospitality.
President Trump said the royal couple helped influence the decision, telling reporters that “people have wanted to do this for a long time” before adding that the King and Queen “got me to do something that nobody else was able to do”. He also echoed the message on his Truth Social account, saying the move was “in honor of the King and Queen of the United Kingdom”.
The announcement comes amid a run of high-profile moments from the visit, including a diplomatic spotlight on White House protocol as the King’s trip was widely viewed as part of efforts to reinforce the UK-US “special relationship”.
Industry figures and ministers also hailed the decision. The Scotch Whisky Association’s chief executive Mr Mark Kent called it a “significant boost” in the sector’s most valuable export market, while Business and Trade Secretary Mr Peter Kyle said lower tariffs would protect jobs and strengthen ties with the US. Previous tariffs were estimated to have cost the industry more than £600 million, according to the report.
