John Swinney heads to Kentucky for further whisky trade talks
First Minister seeking to boost industry while on US visit after celebrating World Cup victory
First Minister John Swinney will visit Kentucky today after celebrating Scotland’s World Cup win against Haiti over the weekend.
Mr Swinney will use the trip to Kentucky to build on US President Donald Trump’s commitment to remove the 10 per cent tariffs on Scotch whisky.
He said continuing to build on this will help to protect hundreds of millions of pounds in trade. Scotland exports more whisky to the US than any other country, and is worth around £933 million.
Speaking ahead of his visit, Mr Swinney said: “Scotch whisky and Kentucky bourbon share a deep, long-standing connection - they’re two of the world’s great spirits and of high value to their respective economies.
“Every year, millions of used bourbon barrels make their way from Kentucky to Scotland, where they’re used to age some of the world’s finest Scotch whiskies.
“The relationship between these two great spirits industries is genuinely symbiotic - each one helps make the other better.”
President Trump made the announcement that tariffs would be removed from Scotch whisky just days before the SNP won a fifth consecutive term in office at last month’s election.
Mr Swinney had direct talks with the president on this issue on several occasions, including making a dedicated trip to Washington DC to meet with the president for negotiations in the Oval Office.
He said: “I have consistently made the case to exempt Scotch whisky from the 10 per cent tariff and was pleased by the president’s announcement that he would remove the tariff for whisky following the State Visit earlier this year.
“My visit to Kentucky aims to build on both that shared heritage and President Trump’s commitment to remove the tariff for whisky, in a very important overseas market for Scotch.”
He said making the removal of trade barriers such as tariffs is a high priority, as whisky exports to the US fell by 4 per cent in value and over 9 per cent in volume compared with 2024.
During his visit to Kentucky, the First Minister will co-host a lunch with key representatives from the US spirits industry, visit Kentucky Cooperage and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel, and tour a distillery with members of the Congressional Bourbon Caucus.
This is part of his trip to the US to mark the men’s football World Cup. He left Scotland immediately after first minister’s questions in Holyrood on Thursday afternoon and has spent the weekend in Boston.
He met with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey during his trip, undertook a tour of Harvard University, and met with business leaders.
On Saturday he then went to a Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal presentation and a fan festival at Boston City Hall, before attending the Scotland v Haiti game in the early hours of Sunday morning (BST).
Following the match, which saw Scotland top the group table with a 1-0 win against the Caribbean nation, Mr Swinney visited the Museum of African American History.
Sport Minister Maree Todd is due to travel to Miami for Scotland’s match against Brazil. Economy Secretary Stephen Flynn and Community Care Minister Alison Thewliss are also both at the World Cup, but have been given special permission by Mr Swinney to attend in a personal capacity.
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