Trump says he’ll remove 15% tariff on Irish whiskey

President Donald Trump declared on Sunday that he plans to lift the 15% tariff on Irish whiskey, making the announcement as he awarded a prize at the conclusion of the Amgen Irish Open at his golf resort in Doonbeg, County Clare, Ireland.apnews+2

The move, if carried out, would end a levy that has weighed on one of Ireland's most prominent exports to the United States since it took effect as part of a broader EU-U.S. trade arrangement in mid-2026.tariffstool+1

A Weekend of Golf and Diplomacy

Trump's two-day visit to Ireland blended diplomacy with his personal business interests. He arrived on Saturday and held meetings in Dublin with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris, and President Catherine Connolly before traveling by helicopter to Doonbeg for the third round of the Irish Open.nytimes+2

The tournament, held at Trump International Golf Links Ireland, ran from September 9 through 13. Trump attended the final round on Sunday before making his tariff announcement during the prizegiving ceremony.dailystar+2

The Tariff Backdrop

Irish whiskey distilled in the Republic of Ireland has faced a 15% U.S. import tariff under the EU-U.S. trade deal that took effect on July 1, 2026. In May, Trump had already removed tariffs on whiskey from Northern Ireland as part of a broader exemption for UK goods, giving distillers there a competitive edge over their counterparts south of the border.bbc+1

That disparity drew complaints from the Irish spirits industry. Whiskey is classified under HTS code 2208.30, which ordinarily carries a duty-free rate, meaning the 15% charge was entirely a product of Trump-era trade policy.tariffstool+1

Wider Implications

The announcement capped a visit that also generated headlines when Trump told reporters alongside Martin on Saturday that he would "love to see" a united Ireland — remarks that drew a swift reaction from pro-British unionists in Northern Ireland.afp+1

It remains unclear when the tariff removal would take effect or whether it would require a broader adjustment to the EU-U.S. trade framework. Reuters Thomson Reuters Corporation ↗ 1.71% and the Associated Press reported Trump's statement but noted no further details on timing or mechanism.reuters+1