During the trophy ceremony of the Irish Open at his Doonbeg golf course in Ireland, US President Donald Trump announced plans to remove the 10% tariff on Irish whiskey. The surprise declaration was made after repeated calls from various officials, including Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin and the tournament's winner, golfer Shane Lowry, who had urged the president to reconsider the trade barrier. Trump stated that "everybody's been bugging me" to drop the duty, leading to his decision to lift the tariffs on behalf of the United States. However, a specific timeline for when the removal will take effect has not yet been detailed.
The impending move addresses a trade imbalance that was created earlier this year. In April, the US administration lifted certain tariffs on whiskey imported from the United Kingdom, which included Scotch and spirits produced in Northern Ireland, following a state visit by the British monarch (inside.beer, 01.05.2026). This left Irish whiskey, which previously faced a standard 15% tariff that was reduced to 10% in July, at a competitive disadvantage in the critical American market.
Industry representatives on both sides of the Atlantic have welcomed the announcement. Chris Swonger, president and chief executive officer of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, described the planned tariff removal as a positive step toward reducing barriers to the international spirits trade. He noted that the action would provide a welcome boost for retailers, restaurants, and consumers ahead of the upcoming holiday season. The Irish Whiskey Association, which had been calling for the elimination of the duties since May, stated that a return to tariff-free trade would help US companies with Irish products in their portfolios and prevent further uncertainty for consumers.
