Distilled Spirits Council of the United States President & CEO Chris Swonger Statement on the Launch of Negotiations for a U.S.-UK Trade Agreement:
“This is a very positive development for the U.S. spirits industry. We applaud the administration for launching trade negotiations with one of our most important trading partners and urge the administration to secure an agreement that results in the removal of additional tariffs imposed on American Whiskey and UK spirits. In 2019, the UK ranked as the U.S. spirits sectors second largest single market with exports valued at $111 million; and American Whiskeys ($101 million) accounting for 91 percent of the total. A U.S.-UK trade agreement would solidify the special economic relationship that binds our two countries.”
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Background:
United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and United Kingdom Secretary of State for International Trade Elizabeth Truss issued a joint statement yesterday to formally launch negotiations of a trade agreement.
The formal launch of negotiations follows an agreement reached between the U.S. and the U.K. in January, 2019 to ensure that reciprocal protection for “Bourbon,” “Tennessee Whiskey,” “Scotch Whisky” and “Irish Whiskey” will continue uninterrupted whenever the U.K. leaves the EU, the so-called Brexit. For more information click here.