Trump Ends Tariffs on Irish Whiskey

Donald Trump stated he will remove the 15% tariff applied to whiskey distilled in the Republic of Ireland. The announcement came at the Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, County Clare, during the final day of the Irish Open. Whiskey from the Republic currently faces the standard EU tariff when entering the US, while Northern Ireland and UK whiskey has been exempt since May.

The change will affect all-island supply chains. Some Northern Ireland brands bottle whiskey produced under licence by the Great Northern Distillery in Dundalk, County Louth. These products had remained classified as EU-origin and subject to the tariff despite the earlier UK-wide relief.

Addressing the crowd before the trophy presentation, Trump said he had discussed whiskey tariffs with Micheál Martin and with golfer Shane Lowry. "Everybody's been bugging me," he said. "They are saying would you do me a favour? It's so unfair what's going on. Could you possibly take the tariffs off of Irish whiskey and I said, on behalf of the United States of America, I am going to take the tariffs off Irish whiskey." The presentation ceremony marked the end of Trump's two-day trip to Ireland before boarding Air Force One at Shannon Airport and departing for Washington.

Comments on a United Ireland

Trump repeated his view that uniting Northern Ireland and the Republic would be natural. He described the idea as one of the most obvious configurations for the island. The remarks were made after he watched the Irish Open final round and met Taoiseach Micheál Martin and President Catherine Connolly in Dublin the previous day.

On Saturday, Trump told reporters he would love to see a united Ireland while at a meeting with Micheál Martin. Speaking on Sunday at his Doonbeg golf resort, he said it would be natural to put Ireland and Northern Ireland "together". He spoke to reporters after watching Shane Lowry tee off. He described what he said about a united Ireland as "a fairly routine comment". "I've always loved the people of Ireland. It just seems to me you have Northern Ireland and Ireland," he said. "It seems that one of the naturals of all time is to put them together. That's only my opinion, and by the way many people agree."

The taoiseach said the president's remarks did not come as a "surprise" to him. "He would make the point this is his view. He believes unity is the logical way for the island to be configured and organised," Martin said. He added: "I think some of the reaction is an overreaction. It shouldn't be a surprise. He takes a different sort of perspective on things." Trump sidestepped a question about Scottish independence, saying he would save that, and added that everybody says there will be no poll on Irish unity until a majority in Northern Ireland are likely to vote in favour, but then things happen.

Local Reactions to the Visit

More than 10,000 people marched in Dublin on Saturday against the visit. Smaller protests occurred in Doonbeg on Sunday, with around 100 demonstrators present. A small crowd were moved from the president's hotel by Gardai. On Saturday evening, three women were arrested for trespassing on the golf links at Doonbeg and appeared at a special sitting of Ennis District Court.

Rev Steven Foster, a Methodist minister from Galway, attended the anti-Trump protest in Doonbeg. "I'm here because Trump is the exact opposite of everything I stand for as a follower of Jesus," he told BBC News NI. Foster added: "As a church leader, it's important for me to be visible, and the church needs to be visible in this regard." Foster said the "type of welcome he has been given sends out a terrible message".

However, others have praised Trump for the benefits and jobs his golf course brings to the local area. Martin Kelly is a local businessman from Doonbeg and said the village is "very fortunate" to have the Trump International Golf Course. "It's a massive employer here to be honest with you," he told BBC News NI. "There's nothing else about here at that scale; they're very decent people to work for, they're very fair." He said local people are "very proud" that the golf tournament took place there.

Seoirse Comerford owns the Comerford bar in Doonbeg. He described the tournament as "unbelievable". He said the golf course is a big employer and is keeping Doonbeg "alive". "Most rural villages in west Clare are all dying a death, young people going away to college, they don't come back. Like there's over 300 people employed up there at the golf course, it's a big boost to the local economy. You've got big companies in Dublin, like Intel, the golf course is our Intel down here."

Supply Chain and Distillery Impact

John Campbell, BBC News NI economics and business editor, noted that lifting the tariff will remove the remaining competitive edge some Northern Ireland distillers had gained from the May UK tariff removal. Newer distilleries that rely on contract bottling from Dundalk had been unable to benefit from the earlier change. Assuming the Trump tariffs on Irish whiskey are removed it will end the advantage that some Northern Ireland distillers had over competitors in the Republic of Ireland. That is because producers north of the border were covered by the removal of tariffs on all UK-made whiskey which Trump announced in May. All-island supply chains meant that some NI whiskey brands could not benefit from the earlier tariff cut. Newer distilleries bottle whiskey produced by other companies while they wait for their own product to mature. This service is dominated by the Great Northern Distillery in Dundalk, County Louth which produces whiskey under licence for brands across the island. It means the NI distilleries bottling that liquid have been classified as EU rather than UK producers.

Frequently asked questions

What tariff currently applies to Irish whiskey?

Whiskey produced in the Republic of Ireland faces a 15% tariff on entry to the US as an EU product. Northern Ireland and other UK whiskey has been exempt since May.

Why do some Northern Ireland brands still pay the tariff?

Brands that bottle liquid produced under licence at the Great Northern Distillery in Dundalk are classified as EU-origin, so they remained subject to the tariff despite the UK-wide relief.

Did Trump discuss the tariffs with Irish officials?

Trump said he had discussed the issue with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and golfer Shane Lowry before announcing the removal.

What did Trump say about a united Ireland?

He described uniting the Republic and Northern Ireland as one of the most natural arrangements and said many people agree with the view.

How large is the Doonbeg golf resort workforce?

The resort employs more than 300 people and is cited by local businesses as the main employer in the area.