United Kingdom | Tariffs on Scotch whisky exports to the US have been called “disappointing” by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) and could have a wide impact on the industry. Announced on 2 April by President Donald Trump, the UK is now facing a 10 percent blanket tariff on the exports of its goods to the United States.

Japan | President Trump’s pause in his “reciprocal tariffs” was the latest twist in a period of uncertainty for many Japanese food and beverage exporters. However, the reprieve of the 24 percent tariffs could end in less than three months, while Japanese companies still have to deal with the earlier 10 percent tariff slapped on their products entering their most important market.

United Kingdom | Diageo, the world’s largest drinks firm, avoided the worst of President Trump’s chaotic trade policy this month. Not only were its Don Julio tequila in Mexico and Crown Royal whiskey in Canada spared additional tariffs – they are altogether exempt from import tariffs in the US under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a free trade agreement which was negotiated by the first Trump administration and came into effect in 2020.