After Scotch Tariff Removal, Alcohol Industry Presses Trump for Broader Trade Relief

President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House on Friday, July 24, in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Major players across the global spirits industry are urging the Trump administration to build on its decision to eliminate tariffs on Scotch whisky by extending similar relief to other imported spirits and wines.

The latest calls came Thursday after President Donald Trump announced the removal of tariffs on Scotch whisky and other UK whiskies, a move welcomed by producers and distributors that have spent years advocating for a return to tariff-free trade.

Pernod Ricard, whose portfolio includes The Glenlivet Scotch whisky, said the decision benefits both consumers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.

“The return to tariff-free trade for Scotch whisky between the UK and US — the world’s most valuable Scotch whisky market — is very welcome news for our industry,” Nodjame Fouad, CEO of Pernod Ricard’s Aged Spirits and Champagne division, said. “This move will improve access for American consumers to iconic Scotch whiskies such as The Glenlivet, while supporting businesses at home, and strengthening the long-standing trading relationship between the UK and US spirits industries.”

However, Pernod Ricard — which owns a variety of heavy-hitting brands across the alcohol industry, including Jameson, Malibu, Absolut Vodka, Perrier-Jouët and Martell — also urged the administration to continue removing tariffs affecting other beverage categories.

“We now hope to see further progress made towards the removal of tariffs affecting other spirits and wine categories — including Irish Whiskey, Champagne and Cognac — to deliver benefits for consumers, producers and hospitality businesses on both sides of the Atlantic,” Fouad said.

The Toasts Not Tariffs Coalition echoed that message, calling the Scotch decision an important first step but emphasizing that tariffs remain on many imported beverage alcohol products.

The coalition, which represents 59 organizations across the U.S. beverage alcohol supply chain, said ending the tariffs benefits far more than overseas producers.

“We greatly appreciate President Trump’s action to end tariffs on UK whiskies,” the group said in a statement. “This decision benefits not only U.S. spirits consumers, but also the thousands of American businesses that import, distribute, market, sell and serve these products.”

The statement highlighted the close relationship between American whiskey producers and scotch distillers, noting that American white oak barrels are widely used to mature Scotch whisky after being used to age bourbon.

For this reason, the coalition noted, eliminating the tariffs supports American cooperages, stave mills, loggers and other suppliers.

“We remain hopeful this is the first step toward eliminating tariffs on all imported spirits and wines, further supporting the American businesses and workers that rely on a thriving hospitality industry,” the group said. “From ports and warehouses to distributors, retailers, restaurants and bars, the removal of these tariffs will create benefits throughout the U.S. hospitality industry supply chain that supports jobs and economic activity in communities nationwide,” the coalition said.

The statements follow a similar one from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States on Thursday, which welcomed the administration’s decision to lift the U.K. tariffs while calling for tariff relief to be expanded to imported spirits from the European Union.