First Minister John Swinney held “constructive” talks with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office during his two-day trip to Washington as he stepped up his call for an easing of whisky tariffs.

Mr Swinney has been in the United States to undertake a series of trade and political meetings and the 50-minute meeting at the White House took place ahead of Mr Trump’s State Visit to the UK next week.

During the Oval Office meeting the President was accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Mr Swinney stressed the importance of Scotch whisky trade with the US and also raised the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Qatar. 

Mr Swinney is lobbying for the current 10% rate to be reduced or removed on the basis that it would benefit both Scottish and US distillers.

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has said that the tariffs cost the industry about £4m a week and that their US counterparts are worried about the impact on their sales of bourbon barrels to Scotland.

Afterwards, Mr Swinney said in a post on X: “We discussed how the zero for zero approach on tariffs would help the industry to flourish on both sides on the pond.

“I’ve now taken those arguments to the Oval office, to President Tump, and we had a constructive discussion about the reasons why Scotch whisky would benefit from no tariffs.”

 In a statement, he added: “With the US state visit to the UK just days away, we are now entering the critical days on which hopes of a better tariff deal for Scotch whisky rest.

“Scotch whisky holds a unique position, as it can only legally be produced in Scotland. During my discussions with President Trump, I made the case to reduce the tariffs on the Scotch whisky industry – something the US industry supports. 

“The United States is the largest market for Scotch whisky but Scottish distillers also spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year buying Bourbon casks from Kentucky. 

“The negotiations themselves are, of course, for the UK negotiating team but given whisky exports to the US were worth almost £1 billion in 2024, its importance to the Scottish economy cannot be underestimated and I am determined to do all that I can to protect and safeguard this iconic Scottish product.” 

It is understood that Mr Swinney’s lobbying efforts on this issue were supported by the UK government, which formally negotiates on trade policy with the US. It is, however, unusual for the President to meet a representative who is not a state president or prime minister.

Prior to the meeting, the First Minister met representatives and member companies of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) and the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

The talks took place at Mount Vernon, the home of US founding father George Washington and site of a whiskey distillery he opened in 1798 which was operated by his Scottish farm hand, James Anderson. 

Later in the day, the First Minister and the Scotch Whisky Association met key Democratic and Republican members of Congress on Capitol Hill.

The First Minister was accompanied by HM Ambassador to the United States, Lord Peter Mandelson, the Scottish Government Chief of Staff and the First Minister’s Private Secretary to the meeting with President Trump. 

The First Minister confirmed to the President he would attend the State Banquet at Windsor Palace.  

Mr Swinney has faced repeated accusations of hypocrisy over his approach to Scotch whisky, given the SNP’s decision to impose minimum unit pricing on alcohol which pushed up the price of a bottle. The Scotch Whisky Association took the SNP to court over the policy.

The SNP government also attempted to introduce a ban on alcohol promotion.