Trump Removes 10 Percent Tariffs on Irish Whisky Immediately

Donald Trump announced today that the United States will remove its 10 percent tariff on Irish whisky. He made this declaration while in Ireland to attend a golf tournament at his own course in Doonbeg, County Clare. The new order repeals a duty currently applied to all European Union wine and spirit exports heading to America.

Everybody has been asking me to act, the president told the crowd during a trophy ceremony. I said on behalf of the United States of America that I am going to take those tariffs off Irish whisky immediately. This move comes several months after Washington already lowered the rate by five percent.

Irish producers have struggled for over a year under these levies as part of a wider trade clampdown from the administration. Trump previously set a zero-tariff policy for spirits from the United Kingdom in late April. That decision followed a royal visit from King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking, Trump posted on social media at the time. The Scotch Whisky Association confirmed July 24 that this zero-tariff rule had taken full effect. They called it welcome news for businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.

The announcement should provide greater confidence to invest and grow exports while supporting jobs and communities. Back in May, the Irish Whiskey Association pressed hard for tariff elimination. Their goal was to shield US spirit portfolios and consumers from market volatility while protecting domestic companies handling Irish brands.

In July, the administration dropped an original 15 percent tariff down to 10 percent. The IWA welcomed the latest announcement and said it would continue working with EU and US counterparts to secure a return to zero-for-zero tariffs for all drink exports. Nothing exemplifies the US-Ireland trade relationship better than Irish Whiskey, IWA Director Eoin O Caithain said in a statement.

The lobby group looks forward to seeing this announcement fully implemented without delay. Trump's sudden decision at the tournament's close triggered a chorus of whistles and cheers from the spectators. Details on how soon the tariff would be lifted were not immediately available.