US-Ireland talks continue on removing whiskey tariffs

Negotiations are still under way over the removal of the 10% US tariff on Irish whiskey, after Donald Trump announced last month that he would take the duty off. The tariff remains in place for now, and officials say the technical steps needed to implement any change have not yet been completed. Ireland says it wants zero tariffs for all EU spirits, not only for Irish whiskey.

A spokesperson for Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said intensive engagement with the US Trade Representative on technical implementation was still ongoing. The department said it wanted the change to be implemented as soon as possible. Helen McEntee, Ireland's foreign affairs and trade minister, said the country's position was to see zero tariffs for all EU spirits, speaking ahead of an informal meeting of European trade ministers.

France's trade minister, Nicolas Forissier, also commented on the issue before the meeting. The tariff matters because Irish whiskey sold into the US is currently at a disadvantage compared with Scotch whisky and whiskey made in Northern Ireland, both of which currently face no tariff. The US is the biggest market for Irish whiskey, according to the Irish Whiskey Association, which said it remained in contact with the department and Ireland's embassy in Washington.

The association said it warmly welcomed Trump's announcement and was looking forward to tariff liberalisation being realised. The European Commission has said it is waiting to see the details of how the US proposes to turn the announcement into law. A commission spokesperson said it was natural for individual countries to lobby for key industries, but that member states and industry representatives were working together to present one voice on trade policy.

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The issue sits within wider EU-US trade relations, where implementation details can determine whether political announcements quickly translate into practical changes for exporters. There is also a recent precedent for the timing of such changes. The commission noted that the removal of US tariffs on Scotch whisky took around three months to move from announcement to implementation.

That comparison has added to expectations among Irish industry figures that the process may still take time, even after the public announcement. The Irish Whiskey Association said it sees the tariff removal as important for Irish businesses and for restoring tariff-free trade with the US. What remains unclear is the exact legal route and timetable for the change, and whether the measure will cover only Irish whiskey or all EU spirits.

Officials in Dublin and Brussels are still waiting for the US side to set out the technical details. Until that happens, the 10% tariff remains in force and exporters are left without a confirmed implementation date.

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