The following is an extract from questions in the
House of Commons today to International Trade ministers.
John Lamont (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk):
What progress she has made on removing tariffs on Scottish goods
exported to the US.
:
We've been working hard to de-escalate this conflict and get
punitive tariffs removed on both sides of the Atlantic. This is
the way forward, not escalating the tariff battle.
: The US barriers to trade have been broken down
in the past to the benefit of Scottish jobs. This includes the
great work by the UK government to get Scotch beef back in
American supermarkets for the first time in two decades. Does the
Secretary of State envisage similar success in removing US
tariffs to help cashmere mills in the Scottish borders and Scotch
whisky distillers to export to American customers?
:
Well, my honourable friend has been a huge champion for Scottish
goods like cashmere and like whisky. These tariffs are damaging
on both sides of the Atlantic. Today, we are seeing the
confirmation hearing of the new US trade representative. And as
soon as that is finished, I will be on the phone to her seeking
an early resolution of these issues.
(Glasgow East, Scottish National Party):
Despite the pandemic, we've seen a rise in consumption of spirits
in North America. That's including the fact that there's a 25
percent tariff in place for Scotch whisky. There is a danger that
some of the alternatives, for example, Canadian or Irish whisky,
can move into that space. And that's damaging for all of us who
support the Scotch whisky industry. So has the Prime Minister
raised this with with President Biden?
: I
can assure you that the Prime Minister is as exercised about this
issue as I am. We are working flat out to get an agreement to
make sure that these tariffs are removed.
