Swinney and Trump have ‘constructive discussion’ over whisky tari

Swinney has already travelled to the US this year, visiting New York in April during the annual Tartan Week celebrations.

Trump 10% tariff on whisky and most UK goods is paid by US importers, who often pass some or all of the extra cost on to their US customers.

The SWA, which is working with the equivalent trade body in the US, has said that about a fifth of all Scotch whisky is exported to the US.

The body said that market was worth £971m in 2024, and with the tariffs would cost the industry about £200m a year.

Earlier, SWA director Graeme Littlejohn said the tariffs also harmed the US bourbon industry, which exports casks to Scotland for whisky maturation.

Mr Littlejohn said that over the duration of Trump’s second term in office, $1.2bn (£0.88bn) of old bourbon barrels were exported to Scottish distilleries.

He told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland: “We’re seeing less Scotch whisky going into the market and we’re seeing damage done to the industry.

“That means less trade to not only those cask manufacturers – those cooperages – but also to wholesale distribution and hospitality across the United States.

“Getting the tariffs back down to zero for Scotch whisky would obviously benefit Scotland and the industry directly, but it would also be a good thing for the US industry and for the US economy.”