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Chamber and committees

The Drop the Tariffs Campaign

  • Submitted by: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour.
  • Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 September 2020
  • Motion reference: S5M-22735

That the Parliament believes that the imposition of the 25% tariff by the United States on single malt whisky adversely affects the whisky and spirits industry in Scotland and creates significant barriers in UK-US trade relations; understands that this is costing the sector £30 million per month with the total cost so far being £300 million; notes the 30% decrease of whisky export to the US, which was recorded shortly after the introduction of the tariff; understands that this puts at risk around 20,000 jobs in the UK and threatens the wellbeing of many families across Scotland; believes that, coupled with the post-Brexit context and COVID-19 pandemic, the tariff might cause even greater harm to the sector, and calls on the UK Government to support the Drop the Tariffs campaign, which has been initiated by GMB Scotland, and to cooperate with the Scotch Whisky Association to demand that the US ends this tariff.


Supported by: Neil Bibby, Sarah Boyack, Neil Findlay, Kenneth Gibson, Iain Gray, Richard Lyle, Rona Mackay, Ruth Maguire, Stuart McMillan, Pauline McNeill, Colin Smyth, Stewart Stevenson