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- Irish whiskey duties will be lifted, according to Trump.
Irish whiskey duties will be lifted, according to Trump.
At the president's Doonbeg golf course, Donald Trump gave Shane Lowry the Irish Open trophy while on foreign but domestic soil. The removal of tariffs on Irish whiskey was another farewell gift he gave.
"I have one thing to say. Everyone has been harassing me since Taoiseach and I discussed it, as did Shane. "Would you do me a favor?" they ask. What's happening is incredibly unjust. "Is it possible for you to remove the tariffs on Irish whiskey?" Trump said.
As the audience shouted, Trump went on, "And I said, on behalf of the United States of America, I am going to take the tariffs off."
Even though he doesn't drink, Trump demonstrated good faith at the conclusion of his brief trip to Ireland, where he met with Irish President Catherine Connolly and Taoiseach Micheál Martin, made controversial remarks endorsing Irish unification, and became the first sitting president to attend the Irish Open.
The Trump administration levied a 10% duty on the majority of imports from the European Union, including Irish whiskey. Following King Charles and Queen Camilla's state visit in April, the president removed duties on UK whiskey, including Scotch, in a similar move.
CNN has contacted the US trade representative to request further details, such as the date on which the duties will be lifted.
The tariff elimination, according to Ireland's deputy prime minister and finance minister Simon Harris, "reflects the very positive engagement we've had with the US administration on tariffs over the 18 months" and is "a welcome announcement of economic significance."
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States' president and CEO, Chris Swonger, praised the action, calling it "another positive step toward reducing barriers to spirits trade" in a statement.
The manager of Dublin's renowned Temple Bar, Michael Delahunty, told CNN that Trump's announcement was "fantastic."
He stated, "We export a lot to America." "It's great for Irish whiskey overall, good for business, and good for us."
The Temple Bar offers Irish whiskey for sale online, and Delahunty stated that Trump's declaration will have a "big impact."
Delahunty stated, "We have a unique relationship with the American customers." "We love bourbons, and they love Irish whiskey."
Trump's support for Irish unification, a contentious issue, dominated the press during his talks in Dublin on Saturday. On Sunday, he shifted the focus to whiskey taxes.
During their bilateral conversation on Saturday, Trump said he spoke with Martin about trade and highlighted the US's "big relationship with Ireland," which he claimed will "continue stronger than ever."
During his own words at the trophy ceremony, Martin also highlighted the two nations' friendship.
Martin remarked of Doonbeg, "The Trump family in particular has invested very heavily in this golf course in the recent decade, making it an exceptional and one of the great key golf courses now anywhere in the world." Trump also gave the winning Irishman the trophy.
The United States of America and Ireland have a very strong and long-lasting friendship, which is reflected in many aspects of the last four days. We are connected by friendship, family, and history," he continued.
The president was far from the streets during Trump's visit, as demonstrations erupted on Saturday in Dublin and the Doonbeg and Shannon region. He spent the weekend at his own golf club, where he was applauded on when presenting the trophy on Sunday and greeted with "U-S-A" chants in the crowded members bar on Saturday nite.
Trump declared, "We're so proud of the entire Doonbeg, and, honestly, Ireland itself has been so incredible, so inviting."
