Whisky tariffs deal sparks political squabble over who claims credit

Whisky tariffs deal sparks political squabble over who claims credit17 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleGlenn CampbellScotland political editorReutersDonald Trump had King Charles had persuaded him to change policyThe removal of tariffs on whisky imports to the US matters both economically and politically in Scotland.President Donald Trump said he was taking the step in honour of King Charles and Queen Camilla's state visit to the US.But with less than a week to go before the Scottish election, the welcome for the announcement was accompanied by competing claims about who can take credit for the deal.Economically, whisky is a major export for Scotland and the wider UK.The Scotch Whisky Association estimates that the US tariffs were costing the industry about £4m a week. The trade body had worked closely with its US counterparts to make the case for a policy shift.That underlines that this is not a free gift from the US to the UK.It is a deal that improves trade conditions for Scotch and Irish whiskey being sold to America, as well as US bourbon and used casks coming into the UK market.It appears to be a zero for zero tariff deal - with import taxes being dropped by both countries.Swinney says Trump thanked him for whisky deal as rivals criticise 'false credit'Trump to remove whisky tariffs after King's visitPolitically, the announcement is interesting for at least two reasons.The first is that it demonstrates that there is still something at least a little bit special about the trans-Atlantic relationship, even if that has come under strain during the Iran war.The prime minister has faced criticism from President Trump for not joining US military action. That included a jibe about Keir Starmer not being Winston Churchill.And while Starmer has refused to get directly involved in the conflict, Scotland's First Minister John Swinney has described it as "illegal" and at one point accused Trump of threatening genocide.Despi...