President Donald Trump removed a 10 percent tariff on Irish whiskey on Sunday. He made the announcement at the Irish Open golf tournament in Doonbeg. This move ends a tax that had been in place for some time. The decision came as he prepared to leave Ireland after a two-day visit.
Trump told the crowd he had faced constant requests to lift the tax. He explained the situation simply to the gathered fans and officials. “And I said, ‘On behalf of the United States of America, I am going to take the tariffs off’,” he said, according to RedState. The standard rate had applied to most European imports until this specific change.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin had discussed the issue with the President. Irish golfer Shane Lowry also brought it up during their time together. Lowry joked about the timing of the news after winning his tournament. “He also announced he was removing tariffs on whiskey because of me … so distillers better start sending me a cheque,” he laughed, according to Breitbart. The golfer later said he would take credit for the decision.
Trump Shuts Down EU Tariff Offer, Demands Bloc Buy More U.S. Energy to Avoid Trade Warhttps://t.co/vrM8geKr9K
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) April 8, 2025
Industry groups welcomed the change immediately. Eoin Ó Catháin, director of the Irish Whiskey Association, expressed strong support. He noted that the U.S. is the biggest market for Irish whiskey. “This announcement is another positive step toward reducing barriers to spirits trade,” said Chris Swonger of the Distilled Spirits Council.
This is not the first time the President has cut whiskey taxes. Last April, he removed tariffs on Scotch whisky following a visit from King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Trump had written on Truth Social about helping Scotland and Kentucky industries. He stated he was removing restrictions on those spirits to help both regions.
The current 10 percent rate on Irish whiskey was a reduction from a previous 15 percent. That earlier cut happened in July. The new announcement specifically targets Irish products, creating a balance with the earlier deal for UK spirits. Trump said Ireland had been “so incredible, so inviting” during his trip.
The removal of these taxes affects thousands of jobs and millions in investments. The Irish Whiskey Association noted the pressure the sector faced over the last year. They plan to work with colleagues in the U.S. and Brussels to ensure the change sticks. The President did not specify a date for the formal paperwork but made his intent clear on the course.
Consumers in the U.S. may soon see lower prices on these bottles. Brands like Tullamore Dew and Bushmills could become more affordable. The decision follows a pattern of using trade rules to reward allies or respond to requests. Trump noted that everyone had been “bugging” him to fix the unfair situation.
