Today the Government have reached a joint agreement with the US to remove tariffs on a range of UK goods. The benefits of this will be felt across every region and nation of the United Kingdom, especially in Scotland where the Scotch whisky industry supports 50,000 jobs.

The US will suspend all tariffs on direct exports for the next four months from the UK to the US, resulting from the Airbus dispute, in an effort to reach a negotiated solution. This measure will come into force on Monday 8 March.

This follows the UK’s decision to suspend Boeing tariffs against the US from January, a gesture of good faith which ensured the UK was not hit by further tariffs and allowed both countries to work on ending the dispute and focus on deepening our future trading relationship.

Today’s agreement shows that both the UK and the US are determined to work together to build back better and take our trading relationship to new heights.

This announcement will protect jobs in UK – as well as Scotch whisky producers, it would also benefit businesses including:

• Cashmere producers in Ayrshire, in 2018 the UK exported to the US around £11m worth of the knitted and crocheted clothing that were targeted by the tariffs, of which around £6m are cashmere.
• Pig farmers in Yorkshire, in 2018 the UK exported to the US around £38m of the pig meat that was targeted by the tariffs.
• Stilton makers in the Midlands, in 2018 the UK exported to the US around £45m of the cheeses that were targeted by the tariffs, of which around £4m was stilton cheese.

On a separate note, the UK and US are continuing to work towards an ambitious trade deal, which could eliminate almost £500m in tariffs on UK exports to the US.

The Prime Minister commented:

“From Scotch Whisky distillers to Stilton-makers, businesses across the UK will benefit from the US decision today to suspend tariffs in this dispute.

“It shows what the UK can do as an independent trading nation, striking deals that back our businesses and support free and fair trade.

“I now look forward to strengthening the UK-US relationship, as we drive economic growth and build back better together”.

For more information on joint agreement with the US to remove tariffs on UK goods, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/us-suspends-tariffs-on-uk-goods-in-trade-dispute.