During a golf tournament in Ireland on September 13, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to lift a 10% tariff on Irish whiskey, citing persistent requests from Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin and golfer Shane Lowry. The decision follows a similar tariff lift for UK whiskey in April 2026, which had created a trade imbalance. The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States welcomed the move as a boost for the upcoming holiday season.
Irish whiskey tariff removal announcement
- ▪U.S. President Donald Trump announced the tariff removal during the trophy ceremony for the Irish Open golf tournament in Doonbeg, Ireland, on September 13, 2026
- ▪Details regarding the specific timeline for when the 10% tariff on Irish whiskey would be officially lifted were not immediately available on September 13, 2026
- ▪U.S. President Donald Trump stated he decided to lift the tariff because numerous people, including Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin and golfer Shane Lowry, had requested it
- ▪U.S. President Donald Trump announced on September 13, 2026, that he plans to remove a 10% tariff on Irish whiskey
EU import tariff policy
- ▪The 10% tariff on Irish whiskey is part of a standard tariff policy that U.S. President Donald Trump imposed on most imports from the European Union
- ▪The standard U.S. tariff on most European Union imports, including Irish whiskey, was reduced from 15% to 10% in July 2026
UK whiskey tariff precedent
- ▪U.S. President Donald Trump stated on April 30, 2026, that he granted the United Kingdom a tariff break after King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited the White House
- ▪The removal of tariffs on United Kingdom whiskey created a tariff imbalance with Ireland, according to reports on September 13, 2026
- ▪U.S. President Donald Trump announced in April 2026 that he was lifting tariffs on United Kingdom whiskey, which includes Scotch and spirits made in Northern Ireland
- ▪The Scotch Whisky Association confirmed that the zero-tariff policy for United Kingdom whiskey came into effect on July 24, 2026
U.S. spirits industry response
- ▪Distilled Spirits Council of the United States President Chris Swonger stated the tariff removal would boost retailers, restaurants, consumers, and the American economy during the holiday season
- ▪Distilled Spirits Council of the United States President Chris Swonger called the tariff removal announcement a positive step toward reducing barriers to the spirits trade
Irish Whiskey Association advocacy
- ▪The Irish Whiskey Association formally called for the removal of the U.S. tariffs on Irish whiskey in May 2026
- ▪The Irish Whiskey Association argued in May 2026 that lifting the tariffs would prevent uncertainty for consumers and assist U.S. companies with Irish products in their portfolios
Debatable claims
- ▪The United States should eliminate tariffs on Irish whiskey
- ▪President Trump should not grant tariff exemptions based on personal appeals
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