Tory 'dithering' on whisky tariffs costs industry millions, says SNP

Tory ministers have been accused of ‘dithering’ over US tariffs on Scotch whisky which have devastated the industry and cost businesses millions.

The US introduced crippling tariffs on the Scotch whisky sector in October last year, which cost the industry £176million in the first part of 2020, according to new figures from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).

It is now being reported that UK Tory ministers are planning on reaching out an olive branch to the new Biden administration in Washington in an attempt to have the tariffs lifted - more than a year after they were first introduced.

Previously, the Department for International Trade said lifting the tariffs would be its ‘top priority’.

The failure to settle the issue forms part of a growing list of broken promises made to Scotland. Boris Johnson also promised around the same time last year to find an Energy Sector Deal, which has also not come to fruition.

Commenting, SNP MSP Alasdair Allan said:

"The Tories have dithered on this issue for more than a year, and the Scotch whisky industry has suffered as a result with these punishing tariffs causing the industry to lose out on millions.

“Coupled with the pandemic, this has been an extremely difficult year for the sector, but it has been hung out to dry by the Tories who have pandered to the needs of Donald Trump. Only now are they making a move when he has been kicked out of the White House.

“These tariffs need removed immediately as Scotch whisky producers could soon be hit by the double-whammy of tariffs to export to Europe with a low-deal or no-deal Brexit, a further blow to businesses.

“Scotch whisky is a brand renowned worldwide, so the Tories must show the urgency that they promised to have these tariffs lifted or risk one of Scotland’s greatest exports.”