Skip to main content
Site logo

Main navigation

  • Home
  • About Donald
  • News
  • Campaigns
  • Surgeries
  • Contact
  • Covid-19 Support
Site logo

Local politicians back calls for new malt whisky agreement with USA

  • Tweet
Thursday, 24 September, 2020
Donald with local councillor outside Bowmore

Highlands and Islands Regional MSP Donald Cameron and Mid-Kintyre and the Islands Councillor Alastair Redman have backed calls from the former Secretary of State for Scotland that the UK Government should engage directly with the USA to remove damaging tariffs imposed on malt whisky products.

Last year, the USA slapped a 25% tariff on Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Scotch Whisky Liqueurs following a dispute with the EU over aid that the EU gave to Airbus in its competition with its American rival Boeing.

On Wednesday, David Mundell MP called on the UK Government to engage directly with the USA, and to agree a bilateral agreement to remove the tariff on Scotch Whisky products.

The Scotch Whisky Association noted that since the tariff came into force, exports to the USA are down 30%, resulting in industry losses of £300 million.

Donald Cameron MSP said: “These tariffs have been extremely damaging for Scotch whisky, and their continued existence is putting jobs on the line.

“It is clear that the EU has failed to negotiate a deal with the USA, so I support the calls for the UK Government to take its own initiative, and deal directly with the USA to deliver zero tariffs on Scotch whisky products.

Cllr Alastair Redman, Argyll and Bute Council's Policy Lead for Economic Growth said: “Coming from Islay, which has ten working distilleries, I know the untold damage that this tariff is causing for the industry, and why it is vital that we work to end it.

“Exports are down, and people are worried about their jobs. I will work with anyone to ensure this matter is resolved swiftly.”

  • Holyrood News

You may also be interested in

Donald Cameron MSP

Jobseekers start 250 businesses in Argyll and Bute

Tuesday, 12 January, 2021

Highlands and Islands Regional MSP Donald Cameron has highlighted figures which show that 250 jobseekers in Argyll and Bute have been helped by the their local Jobcentres and the UK Government's New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) scheme, to launch their own businesses over the last decade.

Show only

  • Holyrood News
  • Local News
  • Media

Donald Cameron Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Highlands and Islands Region

Footer

  • About RSS
  • Accessibility
  • Cookies
  • Privacy
  • About Donald Cameron MSP
  • GDPR Notice
Site logoThe cost of this website has been met from Parliamentary Resources. The Scottish Parliament is not responsible for the content of other internet sites.
Copyright 2021 Donald Cameron Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Highlands and Islands Region. All rights reserved.
Powered by Bluetree