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Trump says he is removing U.S. tariffs on Irish whiskey - Finance news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review
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Trump says he is removing U.S. tariffs on Irish whiskey

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on September 13, 2026

2 min read

· Last updated: September 13, 2026

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Trump to Lift 10% U.S. Tariff on Irish Whiskey Following Ireland Visit

By Bo Erickson and Padraic Halpin

Trump Announces Tariff Removal on Irish Whiskey

DOONBEG, Ireland, Sept 13 (Reuters) - 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.

Announcement Made at Irish Golf Tournament

Trump made the announcement in front of a crowd of Irish golf fans at a tournament held at a course owned by his family. He met Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin in Dublin on Saturday at the start of a 48-hour visit to the country.

Details of the Announcement

"Taoiseach (Ireland's Prime Minister) and I talked about it and Shane (golfer Shane Lowry) talked about it and everybody has been bugging me saying 'would you do me a favor? It's so unfair what's going on. Could you possibly take the tariffs off of Irish whiskey?," Trump said.

"And I said on behalf of the United States of America, I am going to take the tariffs off Irish whiskey," he announced to loud cheers from the crowd.

Background on Tariffs and Trade Relations

Wine and spirits exports to the U.S. were included in a 15% tariff applied on most items under a EU-U.S. trade deal struck last year.

Recent Changes to Tariff Rates

Subsequent new U.S. tariffs on 60 trading partners in July, including the EU, brought the rate down to 10%. The move was part of efforts to rebuild Trump's near-global tariff wall after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down his initial duties.

Industry Response to Tariff Removal

The Irish Whiskey Association (IWA) 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.

Statements from the Irish Whiskey Association

"Nothing exemplifies the US-Ireland trade relationship better than Irish Whiskey," IWA Director Eoin O Caitin said in a statement, adding that the lobby group looked forward to seeing the announcement fully implemented.

Reporting Credits

(Reporting by Bo Erickson in Doonbeg, Ireland, Padraic Halpin in Dublin and David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Editing by Sergio Non and Nick Zieminski)

Key Takeaways

  • President Trump said he would remove the 10 % U.S. tariff on Irish whiskey during his Sept 13 visit to Doonbeg, Ireland (apnews.com).
  • Irish whiskey currently faces a 10 % U.S. tariff as part of broader EU‑spirit duties, though industry groups continue to press for a full return to the zero‑for‑zero trade arrangement (rte.ie).
  • The Irish Whiskey Association endorsed the announcement and reaffirmed its commitment to work with EU and U.S. stakeholders to restore reciprocal tariff‑free trade for all spirits (rte.ie).

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What did President Trump announce regarding Irish whiskey tariffs?
President Trump announced the removal of the 10% U.S. tariff on Irish whiskey exports from the European Union.
When and where did Trump make the announcement about Irish whiskey tariffs?
Trump made the announcement at a golf tournament in Doonbeg, Ireland, at the end of his 48-hour visit to the country.
How were Irish whiskey exports affected by previous U.S. tariffs?
Irish whiskey exports faced a 10% U.S. tariff as part of broader tariffs on EU wine and spirits, following a 15% tariff implemented the previous year.
How did the Irish Whiskey Association react to the tariff removal?
The Irish Whiskey Association welcomed the news and expressed hope for a return to zero tariffs on all drinks exports.
Which Irish official met with Trump shortly before the announcement?
Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin met with President Trump in Dublin before the announcement was made.

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