Tariffs will be 'a bitter blow' to whisky industry, says Stone
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
AMERICAN tariffs imposed on Scotch whisky will be "a bitter blow" to the industry, according to north MP Jamie Stone.
He said the plan – announced by President Donald Trump – is due to take effect later this month and claims it will impact on jobs.
Mr Stone, the Liberal Democrat spokesman on Scottish affairs and MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, said: "These tariffs will be a bitter blow to the Scotch whisky industry and deeply damaging to people’s jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.
"This is an example of the type of behaviour we will face if Brexit forces us into the hands of a US trade deal designed by the vindictive and irrational Donald Trump.
"The EU remains the largest export region for Scottish whisky and rather than turning our back on it we need to maintain frictionless trade. Instead, the Government is creating barriers with our largest export partner.
"The distilleries in my constituency are already worried by the Government’s plans to pursue a hard Brexit and Trump’s decision adds more concerns to the future of the Scotch export market."
Mr Stone spoke out after the new duty – thought to be 25 per cent on single malt whisky – was announced. The measure is part of a raft of measures being imposed by the US in retaliation for European Union subsidies given to aircraft maker Airbus.
Other goods being targeted include dairy products, pork, books and some machinery.
Scotch exports to the US last year were worth £1bn, with single malts accounting for a large share of that.
The US was given the go-ahead to impose tariffs on just over £6 billion of goods it imports from the EU following a World Trade Organisation ruling.
It is the latest chapter in a 15-year battle between the US and the EU over illegal subsidies for plane makers Airbus and rival Boeing.
