Trump Pledges to End Tariffs on Irish Whiskey During Doonbeg Visit
Goldlaner.com – Donald Trump used the trophy presentation at the Irish Open to announce that tariffs on Irish whiskey will be removed, offering a trade concession during a high-profile weekend at his Doonbeg golf resort.
The president made the commitment after presenting the tournament trophy to Shane Lowry. Standing before a crowd at the County Clare venue, Trump said requests to lift the levy had come from several directions, including Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the golfer.
“I want to mention one thing. Taoiseach and I talked about it, and Shane talked about it, and everybody’s been bugging me. They’re saying, ‘Would you do me a favor? It’s so unfair what’s going on. Could you possibly take the tariffs off of Irish whiskey?’”
Trump then said he would act for the United States to remove the duty, prompting a loud response from those attending the ceremony.
“And I said, on behalf of the United States of America, I am going to take the tariffs off,” Trump said.
A 10% Duty on Irish Whiskey
Irish whiskey has been subject to a 10% tariff imposed by the Trump administration on most imports from the European Union. The announcement did not include a timetable for when the levy would formally end, and further details are expected from the US trade representative.
The move follows a comparable decision involving British whiskey. After King Charles and Queen Camilla made a state visit in April, Trump removed tariffs affecting whiskey from the United Kingdom, including Scotch.
Although Trump does not drink alcohol, he framed the Irish whiskey decision as a gesture of goodwill near the end of his short trip to Ireland. The declaration also gave the visit a more positive trade-focused conclusion after controversy surrounding his remarks on Irish unification.
Golf, Trade and US-Ireland Relations
Trump became the first sitting US president to attend the Irish Open, spending much of the weekend at his own golf club in Doonbeg. On Saturday night, he was welcomed in the crowded members bar by chants of “U-S-A,” and he received cheers again while awarding the trophy on Sunday.
During a bilateral meeting with Martin, Trump said the two leaders had discussed trade and stressed what he described as the United States’ major relationship with Ireland. He said that relationship would remain stronger than ever.
Martin also used the presentation ceremony to emphasize the long-standing links between the two countries. He praised the Trump family’s investment in the Doonbeg course over the past decade, saying it had helped turn the property into an exceptional golf venue.
“The Trump family in particular have invested very heavily in the recent decade in this golf course, making it an exceptional and one of the great key golf courses now anywhere in the world,” Martin said.
He connected the sporting event to broader ties between Ireland and the United States, citing shared history, family connections and friendship.
“In many ways, the last four days reflects also the very strong relationship, the strength of an enduring relationship between the United States of America and Ireland. We are tied together by history, by family, by friendship,” he added.
Trip Marked by Political Disagreement and Protests
The visit was not without tension. Trump had voiced support for Irish unification, describing it as “fantastic,” a position that drew pushback from the UK government the day before the trophy presentation.
He also met Irish President Catherine Connolly and Martin during his time in the country. While Trump remained largely within the grounds of his resort, demonstrations took place Saturday in Dublin as well as in the Doonbeg and Shannon areas.
The contrasting scenes underscored the unusual setting for a presidential trip: formal political meetings, trade discussion and public protest unfolding alongside a major golf tournament at a property owned by the president.
Trump, however, focused his closing comments on the welcome he said he had received in County Clare and across Ireland.
“We’re so proud of the whole Doonbeg, and, frankly, Ireland itself has been so incredible, so inviting,” Trump said.
For Irish whiskey producers and importers, the central question now is how quickly the promised tariff removal will be translated into official trade policy. The 10% duty has been a direct added cost on Irish whiskey entering the US market, making the timing and scope of any formal change important for businesses involved in the trade.
Trump’s announcement placed Irish whiskey alongside UK whiskey as a product singled out for relief from broader tariffs on European imports. It also positioned the decision as part of a wider effort to highlight the economic relationship between Ireland and the United States during a visit dominated by golf, diplomacy and political debate.
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