Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander has accused First Minister John Swinney of “political point-scoring” by claiming to have put Scotch whisky “on the agenda” after his visit to Washington.
Mr Alexander said he was pleased that Mr Swinney met US president Donald Trump in the White House to discuss whisky tariffs, but his attempts to claim credit for pushing the whisky sectors’ case overlooked work that has been underway by the UK government.
The First Minister returned from a two-day trip the US and immediately called a press conference at Bute House to outline progress he had made.
He claimed the UK government had not sufficiently prioritised whisky in trade discussions with Mr Trump, but that he had “sorted” out the situation.
The Scottish government is seeking a reduction or removal of 10% tariffs on Scotch entering the US – which the whisky industry says costs businesses £4m per week.
“I sorted that out over the summer, and it’s now got the attention that it needs,” Mr Swinney told reporters. “A better deal for whisky was not previously on the agenda – and it now very much is.
“The ball is firmly in the UK government’s court. They must press on with the detailed negotiations and try to get a deal over the line.”
But in an interview this morning Mr Alexander said Mr Swinney was overplaying his role in the talks.
“When he said he had put whisky on the agenda, with great respect we had already done a deal with India where whisky was a central feature.
“John Swinney knows we had Peter Kyle [the new UK Business Secretary] on the ground in Washington on Monday and negotiators in Washington every day this week.
“And because we have shared that information with him he is fully aware that long before John Swinney arrived in the Oval Office we were talking with and engaging with the US administration on the issue of whisky .
“So I welcome the fact that John was in Washington. Frankly, if we have divisions at home we will be less influential abroad.
“The reality is we shouldn’t be playing politics with people’s jobs and the prospects of the Scotch whisky industry.
“At such a sensitive time in terms of the negotiations with the US administration we can ill-afford for people trying to point score at home when they should be forused on speaking with one voice.
“We are working every day to deliver for the Scotch Whisky Association and frandkly we do not need the distraction of people playing politics when we have to be focused on protecting people’s jobs.
Mr Alexander, a UK trade minister until last week, called on Mr Swinney “to continue the effective joined up UK approach to the negotiations” ahead of President Trump’s state visit to the UK next week.
The minister added: “Ultimately, Donald Trump doesn’t give gifts, Donald Trump does deals.
“We are negotiating hard for the United Kingdom… and the Scotch whisky industry is very high up that list if not at the very top, if not at the top.
“We have just delivered a trade deal with India …which will be transformative to export opportunities for Scotch whisky.”
As part of that deal, Indian import tariffs on whisky fell from 150% to 75% immediately and will drop even further to 40% within 10 years.
Mr Swinney’s visit drew praise from those who welcomed his direct approach and his unprecedented meeting with Mr Trump in the Oval Office.
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