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Scottish Secretary David Mundell met with representatives of the Scotch Whisky Association and Diageo at the iconic Caol Ila distillery on Islay, to discuss how the UK Government is laying the groundwork to reduce export tariffs on Scottish produce.
Whisky is worth around 5 billion to the UK economy, and accounts for three quarters of Scotlands total food and drink exports. The UK Government is ensuring that, as we leave the EU, the industry is able to tackle tariffs and boost overseas sales.
The Department for International Trade has already established 11 working groups to strengthen trade and commercial ties with key trading partners around the world, including the United States, Australia, China, India, Mexico, South Korea and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Ministerial trade dialogues have also been established with Taiwan, Vietnam, India, Kazakhstan and Brazil.
Mr Mundell said:
Scotch whisky is a world-class product, globally recognised for its quality and heritage, and the industry employs thousands of people in Scotland and around the rest of the UK.
We are determined to open up new markets around the world for the very best whisky our distillers have to offer and to drive down any tariffs they face.
By strengthening ties with key partners, identifying new markets and tackling tariffs, the UK Government is paving the way towards an even brighter future for Scotlands whisky industry.
International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox said:
With the recent uplift in trade, we should raise a glass to our exporting success and further help UK businesses make the most of an ever-growing demand for top-selling British products such as scotch whisky as part of a Global Britain.
Reducing the costs for companies to sell overseas will become one way of further opening up free trade routes and boosting sales, and thats why Ive tasked my international economic department to look at how we can support more businesses to build their brands abroad.
For scotch whisky, export tariffs currently range from zero to over 150 per cent. The UK Government is looking at how future trade agreements could reduce export tariffs for iconic Scottish goods such as scotch, smoked salmon and gin.
Mr Mundell also visited the building site of the Ardnahoe distillery, set to be the ninth distillery operating on Islay when it opens in 2018. Overlooking the Sound of Islay and Paps of Jura, it will bring even more jobs to Scotlands third biggest industry, which already employs more than 7000 people in Scotlands rural communities.
Karen Betts, Scotch Whisky Association chief executive, said:
The scotch whisky industry is delighted that the Scottish Secretary, David Mundell, is visiting Islay. Hell see the fascinating Islay distilleries, famous for their smoky malts. Hell see too the importance of the scotch whisky industry to Islays local communities, and how whisky production there contributes more broadly to the Scottish and UK economies.
Notes:
The Scotch Whisky Association published a report at the beginning of this year on its economic impact in the UK, estimating that:
- Scotch Whisky adds 3.2 billion of value to the UK economy and a further 1.7 billion through indirect and induced impacts
- 10,800 people are directly employed in the industry with a further 29,300 indirect and induced jobs
- Around 90-95 per cent of these impacts are in Scotland with 5-10 per cent in the rest of the UK.