UK and US pair to work on fairer tariffs

Douglas Ross has joined a US congressman to urge the US and UK to work together to end punitive whisky tariffs.

Mr Ross and George Holding have called for “bilateral” talks on the issue as they warned against raising the controversial trade barriers further.

In a joint article, the duo claim the US has “far more to gain” from a Free Trade Deal (FTD) with the UK post-Brexit than from maintaining spirits tariffs.

Mr Ross said the tariffs were imposing “unfair” hardship on the area with an economy reliant on distillers.

His article, written in conjunction with North Carolina Representative Mr Holding, welcomed talks between US trade representative Bob Lighthizer and UK Trade Secretary Liz Truss aimed at establishing an FTA with America.

But their “greatest concern” were the “retaliatory tariffs” imposed by the US and EU as a result of a trade dispute on aircraft.

Their impact on the whisky sector has seen exports of Scotch fall by 30% and US bourbon much the same, resulting in the loss of jobs.

“Thanks to this trade dispute, small areas like Moray are facing additional hardship that is particularly unfair,” Mr Ross and Mr Holding said.

“The main industries that provide this locality the bulk of its livelihood are Scotch whisky, shortbread, and cashmere, all of which are subject to retaliatory tariffs.”

Their article noted “fears and rumours” that spirit tariffs could rise to 100% and be extended to blended whisky, gin and vodka.