Trump Announces Plan To Scrap 10% Tariff On Irish Whiskey

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to remove a 10% tariff imposed on Irish whiskey imported into the United States, making the declaration during the trophy presentation at the Irish Open in County Clare, Ireland, on Sunday.

Trump made the announcement at his Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, where he presented the Irish Open trophy to Irish golfer Shane Lowry following his record 11-shot victory. The announcement was met with cheers and loud applause from spectators.

“Everybody’s been bugging me” to remove the tariff, Trump said, adding that he had decided, “on behalf of the United States of America,” to take the tariffs off Irish whiskey.

Irish whiskey currently faces a 10% U.S. tariff under the broader duties imposed on most imports from the European Union. The rate was reduced from 15% to 10% in July, meaning Trump’s latest announcement would effectively remove the remaining tariff on the product if implemented.

The move comes after sustained pressure from Ireland’s whiskey industry. The Irish Whiskey Association had previously called for the tariff to be removed, arguing that doing so would benefit U.S. companies that sell Irish whiskey and reduce uncertainty for American consumers.

Trump’s announcement also follows his earlier decision to remove certain tariffs on whiskey from the United Kingdom, including Scotch whisky and spirits produced in Northern Ireland. That policy took effect in July.

Trump’s latest announcement came at the end of a two-day visit to Ireland that combined political engagements with his attendance at the Irish Open. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin and other Irish officials have been involved in discussions surrounding trade and the impact of U.S. tariffs on Irish exports.

Reuters reported that Trump praised Lowry after the golfer’s emphatic victory before surprising the home crowd with his declaration that he would remove tariffs on Irish whiskey.

However, the White House has not provided a specific timeline for when the tariff would actually be removed. The announcement therefore represents a policy pledge rather than an immediately effective change in U.S. import duties.

For Irish whiskey producers, the removal of the tariff could improve their competitiveness in the U.S. market, one of the industry’s most important export destinations. For American importers and consumers, it could also reduce some of the additional costs associated with the existing duty.

The announcement adds a trade dimension to Trump’s high-profile Ireland visit, which has already attracted attention over his comments on Irish unity and his appearance at the Irish Open.