US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he would lift tariffs and restrictions on whiskey trade between Scotland and the US state of Kentucky.In a post on Truth Social he wrote, “In honor of the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, who have just left the White House and will soon be returning to their wonderful country, I will be removing tariffs and restrictions on whiskey related to Scotland’s ability to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky on whiskey and bourbon, two very important industries within Scotland and Kentucky.” People wanted to do this for a long time, as it allowed for great inter-country trade, especially with the use of wooden barrels. The king and queen made me do something that no one else could do, and that too without asking! It’s a wonderful honor to have both of them in the United States.”It comes after King Charles and Queen Camilla visited the White House on a state visit, during which trade relations and cultural ties between the United Kingdom and the United States were discussed. The visit also included talks on strengthening economic cooperation between key industries of the two countries.According to Trump’s post, the decision was influenced by the long-standing trade relationship between Scotland’s whiskey industry and Kentucky’s Bourbon region, particularly the exchange of materials such as wooden barrels used in production. He also suggested that the royal visit played a role in encouraging policy change.The announcement comes against the backdrop of earlier tariff measures introduced by the Trump administration in 2025, which included a 10% baseline tariff on most British goods. Those measures raised concerns in the Scotch whiskey industry, which relies heavily on exports, particularly to the United States.Trade representatives had previously warned that such tariffs could increase pressure on distillers and hit a sector that relies heavily on international markets.Following the latest announcement, the move is expected to be welcomed by the whiskey industry. Industry representatives said distillers “will be able to breathe a little easier during a period of significant pressure on the sector,” Reuters reported.