USA · updated 1h ago · 3 min read
Donald Trump Removes 10% Tariff on Irish Whiskey After Ireland Visit
Trump announced removal of a 10% tariff on Irish whiskey. The pledge was made at the Irish Open trophy ceremony in Doonbeg.
Whether Trump’s move is whipsaw personal behaviour or strategic tariff-wall rep….
2 of 3 outlets skipped it: BBC adds economic analysis about NI distillers losing advantage.
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The New York Times
“latest example of Mr. Trump’s whipsaw approach to global trade”Read the original ↗
The New York Times spotlights Trump’s whipsaw style, while Reuters focuses on tariff strategy. Most outlets report the 10% Irish-whiskey removal.
Tariff lifted for Irish whiskey
U.S. President Donald Trump said at the end of a visit to Ireland on Sunday that he would remove a 10% tariff on Irish whiskey, a duty that currently falls under those imposed on all European Union wine and spirit exports to the United States.
“Trump said at the end of a visit to Ireland on Sunday that he would remove a 10% tariff on Irish whiskey”
Trump made the announcement in front of a crowd of Irish golf fans at a tournament held at a course owned by his family, and he said, "And I said on behalf of the United States of America, I am going to take the tariffs off Irish whiskey," as the crowd cheered.
Reuters said Trump met Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin in Dublin on Saturday at the start of a 48-hour visit to the country, and it described the tariff as part of the 15% tariff applied on most items under a EU-U.S. trade deal struck last year.R
Reuters added that subsequent new U.S. tariffs on 60 trading partners in July, including the EU, brought the rate down to 10%, and it said the move was part of efforts to rebuild Trump's near-global tariff wall after the U.S. RSupreme Court struck down his initial duties.
“Everybody’s been bugging me”
Trump framed the decision as the result of repeated requests during the Irish Open trophy ceremony, saying, "Everybody has been bugging me saying 'would you do me a favor? It's so unfair what's going on.
At the same ceremony, Trump added, "Taoiseach (Ireland's Prime Minister) and I talked about it and Shane (golfer Shane Lowry) talked about it," tying the tariff pledge to his discussions with Micheal Martin and golfer Shane Lowry.
The Irish Whiskey Association welcomed the announcement and said it would continue to work with its EU and U.S. counterparts to secure a return to the zero-for-zero tariff arrangement for all drinks exports.
Reuters quoted IWA Director Eoin O Caitin saying, "Nothing exemplifies the US-Ireland trade relationship better than Irish Whiskey," and said the lobby group looked forward to seeing the announcement fully implemented.R
What happens next for trade
Reuters reported that the 10% tariff Trump promised to remove was tied to the broader U.S. tariff structure on EU wine and spirit exports, and it traced the rate change to July when new U.S. tariffs on 60 trading partners brought the rate down to 10%.R
“Subsequent new U.S. tariffs on 60 trading partners in July, including the EU, brought the rate down to 10%”
The same Reuters account said the Irish Whiskey Association would keep working with its EU and U.S. counterparts to secure a return to the zero-for-zero tariff arrangement for all drinks exports, making implementation the next stated milestone.R
The Hill described Trump’s announcement as a plan to lift tariffs on Irish whiskey, and it quoted Trump saying, "Everybody’s been bugging me, they’re saying, ‘Would you do me a favor? It’s so unfair what’s going on.
In The Hill’s account, Trump said he would respond to those requests by taking the tariffs off, continuing, "And I said, ‘On behalf of the United States of America, I am going to take the tariffs off,'" while also placing the announcement in the context of his earlier tariff moves on Scotch whisky after a visit from King Charles III and Queen Camilla.