Trump Lifts Tariff on Scotch Whisky as Royal Gesture
WASHINGTON / LONDON — May 1, 2026US President Donald Trump announced the removal of a 10% tariff on Scotch whisky imports, calling King Charles III “the greatest king,” as the British monarch and Queen Camilla concluded their historic state visit to the United States.In a characteristically dramatic gesture, Trump made the announcement at the White…
WASHINGTON / LONDON — May 1, 2026
US President Donald Trump announced the removal of a 10% tariff on Scotch whisky imports, calling King Charles III “the greatest king,” as the British monarch and Queen Camilla concluded their historic state visit to the United States.
In a characteristically dramatic gesture, Trump made the announcement at the White House, framing it as a personal tribute to the King. “He’s the greatest king — probably ever. And great kings deserve great whisky, duty-free,” Trump told reporters.
Buckingham Palace responded with rare warmth, stating that His Majesty “would raise a glass to the President” — a diplomatic toast that delighted both nations and signalled a new warmth in US-UK relations.
The Scottish whisky industry, worth over £5 billion annually, welcomed the decision. Trade bodies called it “a victory for British craftsmanship and diplomatic goodwill.”
The tariff had been in place since Trump’s sweeping global trade measures earlier this year, and its removal marks one of the first major rollbacks linked to a bilateral diplomatic event.
