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U.S. President Donald Trump said he would remove U.S. tariffs on Irish whisky, announcing the move Sunday while attending a golf tournament at his family’s course in western Ireland.
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“On behalf of the United States of America, I am going to take the tariffs off,” Trump said to cheers from the crowd at the Irish Open’s trophy celebration.
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Irish whisky and other goods from the European Union are generally subject to a 10 per cent tariff under an adjusted rate following a Supreme Court ruling striking down earlier Trump levies.
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Trump’s decision was announced as Shane Lowry, a professional Irish golfer, won the Open in his home country. The declaration delivers a major victory to the Irish government and highlights the often shifting — and personal — approach to trade policy under the U.S. president. Trump has regularly turned to tariffs to push for concessions and punish nations that have bucked his interests; he has also eased levies to reward allies.
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The decision, which Trump announced to roaring applause at his family’s golf course in Doonbeg, Ireland, came at the end of a two-day visit marked by the country’s efforts to engage in delicate diplomacy and maintain warm relations with the U.S. president.
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Unlike other European nations that have been targets for Trump and drew his criticism this weekend, Ireland generally has been able to avoid some of that fire. Still, trade issues have been a major flashpoint between Washington and Dublin, with Trump critical of Ireland’s economic model that has attracted U.S. companies and drawn hefty tax revenues.
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The Irish Whiskey Association “heartily welcomes” the news, Irish Whiskey Association Director Eoin Ó Cáitín said in a statement. “We will continue to work with our EU and U.S. counterparts to secure a return to the zero-for-zero arrangement for all drinks exports.”
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Ireland’s leaders rolled out the red carpet for Trump, treating him to pomp and pageantry even though he was not making an official state visit to the country. Trump was given gifts and treated to an honour guard as part of a charm offensive in Dublin on Saturday when he met with the president and prime minister.
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Irish distillers had lobbied for a reduction in the duties. While whisky distilled in the Republic of Ireland and imported into the U.S. has been subject to the 10 per cent tariff, Scotch as well as whisky produced in Northern Ireland currently does not face such levies as it benefits from the U.S.-U.K. trade deal.
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On Sunday, Trump said he was besieged by requests to address the Irish whisky levies during his short visit, including appeals from Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin and Lowry. The Taoiseach raised the issue of tariffs on Irish whisky with Trump when they spoke Saturday in Dublin, according to a person familiar with the matter.
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“Following President Trump’s earlier action to remove tariffs on Scotch and all other U.K. whiskys, this announcement is another positive step toward reducing barriers to spirits trade,” Distilled Spirits Council of the United States chief executive Chris Swonger said in a statement.