Trump lifts tariffs on Irish whiskey as thank-you for golf tournament

US President Donald Trump has said Irish whiskey distillers will no longer be subject to tariffs when exporting their products to the United States. He described the move as a gesture of thanks rather than part of a broader shift in trade policy.

Link to the golf tournament

According to Trump, the tariff removal is connected to the Irish Open golf tournament. The president said the step was his way of expressing gratitude for being associated with the sporting event, though he did not provide further detail on the exact nature of his involvement with the tournament.

Impact on the industry

Irish whiskey is a significant export sector for the country, with the US market ranking among its most important destinations. Removing the tariffs means producers will no longer face the additional costs that previously made exporting to the American market more difficult.

The decision is being presented as a personal gesture from the president rather than the outcome of formal trade negotiations between the United States and Ireland, or the European Union more broadly. Trump referred to the move as a kind of "parting gift" to the industry, though he offered no further explanation of what he meant by the term.

The announcement came directly from Trump himself, and it remains unclear when exactly the change will take effect or how it will be formally implemented within US trade regulations.