Wemyss Family Spirits has called on political leaders in the UK and US to take urgent action to remove punitive tariffs on Scotch whisky, warning that a rare opportunity for a fair trade deal must not be missed.
As President Trump’s UK visit comes to a close, William Wemyss, Founder and Chairman of Wemyss Family Spirits, said momentum is building for a potential “zero-for-zero” agreement that could eliminate tariffs on both Scotch whisky and American bourbon.
“We are at a pivotal moment. For the first time since the tariffs were imposed, there’s real momentum behind a deal that could remove harmful tariffs on both Scotch and bourbon,” said Wemyss. “But if we let this moment slip away, it could be years before we get this close again, and that would be disastrous for our industry and for jobs.”
Wemyss Family Spirits, which owns Kingsbarns Distillery and the Wemyss Malts range, is among a growing number of independent producers impacted by the 10% tariff, which remains in place despite improved trading conditions in other sectors.
“This 10% tariff has already done real harm,” said Wemyss. “It’s wiping more than £4 million a week from Scotch whisky exports and putting jobs on the line. It’s also making it harder to plan for the future. Independent distillers like us are having to pause investment, tighten margins and delay opportunities about growth. We need political courage on both sides of the Atlantic to get a deal over the line.”
His comments follow a series of high-level meetings in recent weeks, including discussions with Scotland’s First Minister during a visit to Washington, as well as engagements during the US President’s time in the UK.
The US remains one of the company’s most important export markets. “The US is one of our single biggest export markets. For a business like ours, it makes up around 10% of total sales, and tariff-free access gives us the confidence to invest in people, stock and new releases,” said Wemyss.
“A zero-for-zero deal would bring fairness, support jobs, and protect one of Scotland’s most historic and globally recognised industries. We have to remember that Scotch whisky is a symbol of Scottish heritage, and we should all want it to thrive on the world stage. There’s huge appetite for it in the US, and the right deal could be transformative. We can’t afford to let this pass us by, there’s far too much at stake.”