US makes a surprise pledge to the Irish whiskey industry that could be a game-changer

Monday, 14 September 2026 at 09:33

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The Irish whiskey world got a pretty encouraging update this weekend. During a visit to Ireland, U.S. President Donald Trump announced he intends to scrap the 10% import tariff. That means Irish whiskey could soon be shipped to the U.S. with fewer hurdles.

The American president attended the Irish Open. Speaking at his family’s golf course in Doonbeg, he told a large crowd of golf fans that he’d been strongly urged to address the levy. The Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin and golfer Shane Lowry were also said to have raised the issue with him.

Tariff on Irish whiskey almost off the table

A significant 10 percent import duty currently applies to Irish whiskey exported to the United States. As a result, every bottle becomes unnecessarily more expensive, which is less appealing for customers—and not exactly ideal for distilleries in Ireland either.

Wine and spirits from the European Union previously faced an even higher tariff of 15%, which was reduced to 10% in July. If Trump has his way, that levy on Irish whiskey will now disappear entirely. The United States is a key market for the industry, and a border tax either pushes up retail prices for imported bottles or squeezes the margins of producers and importers.

What does this mean for the rest of Europe?

For Irish whiskey makers, the removal of the U.S. tariff would be a major win. The Irish Whiskey Association responded positively to the announcement.

However, nothing has been said about the rest of Europe. Other countries still face tariffs on their whisky exports. Whether Trump plans to lift those in the near future isn’t clear.

Tariff not officially lifted yet

There’s one important caveat for Ireland as well. While the president has announced the tariff will be abolished, that doesn’t make it vanish overnight. The decision still needs to be formally implemented. For now, the Irish Whiskey Association is calling it a welcome announcement and is looking forward to full enactment.

For brands like Jameson, Redbreast, Powers, and other Irish whiskey producers, this could ultimately be a major boost—especially given how crucial the American market has been to Irish whiskey for years.

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FAQ

How high is the current U.S. import tariff on Irish whiskey?
The current rate is 10%.
Has the import tariff on Irish whiskey already been lifted?
Not definitively. The U.S. president has announced its removal, but the decision still needs to be implemented.
When did the president make this announcement?
He made the announcement on Sunday, 13 September 2026, during the Irish Open in Ireland.