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The UK Secretary for Scotland stated yesterdayJohn Swinneyshould cease 'political point scoring' regarding US whiskytariffsas he prioritized the matter above President Trump's state visit.
Douglas Alexander dismissed the First Minister after he conducted a Bute House press briefing following a 50-minute discussion with Mr Trump at theWhite House on Tuesday.
Although Londonis in discussions with the US, Mr Swinney stated that his meeting in the Oval Office created a 'genuine opportunity' to reduce the tariff on Scotch below the existing 10 per cent.
He also accused the UK Governmentfor not bringing the matter to Mr Trump's 'attention', and boasted: 'I took care of that during the summer, and it's now receiving the focus it requires.'
The Scotch whisky sector, which claims the import tax imposes a weekly burden of £4 million on the industry, is hoping that Mr Trump will announce reduced tariffs on alcoholic beverages during his state visit next week.
Speaking on BBCRadio Scotland, Mr Alexander and Mr Swinney should concentrate on securing an agreement, rather than engaging in political criticisms.
He stated: 'With President Trump's visit to the country approaching in a few days, it is essential that we prioritize Scotland's economy - rather than engaging in political debates.'
Following the trade agreement the UK Labour Government reached with the United States earlier this year, UK officials and representatives have been involved in additional intense talks on various trade matters, particularly tariffs on Scotch whisky.
It's completely absurd to imply the opposite.
The administration will take whatever steps possible to secure an agreement, but this requires all parties working in unison for the benefit of Scottish employment and exports.
Mr. Alexander mentioned that the UK Government was "negotiating vigorously," but emphasized "Donald Trump doesn't offer gifts, Donald Trump makes deals."
He stated: 'The Scotch whisky industry is among the top, if not the highest, on our list of priorities for negotiation.'
We have recently finalized a trade agreement with India, set to reduce tariffs from approximately 150 per cent initially to 75 per cent, and subsequently to 40 per cent, marking a significant change.
We are putting in significant effort from now until the state visit, and as needed after the state visit to support the whisky industry and everyone involved in it within Scotland.
When questioned about Mr Swinney's 'political point scoring,' he responded: 'When he mentioned that he had brought whisky onto the agenda, with great respect, we had already reached an agreement with India, where whisky was a key part of the deal.'
Mr. Alexander mentioned that the First Minister was aware that UK Trade Secretary Peter Kyle was "on the ground in Washington on Monday" and had full knowledge that high-level UK-US discussions regarding whisky were already taking place.
He expressed his appreciation for Mr Swinney's 'support' in Washington, yet remarked, 'Honestly, if there are disagreements within, we will have reduced impact overseas. The truth is, we must not engage in political maneuvering that affects people's jobs and the future of the Scotch whisky industry.'
When asked if the First Minister was acting in a petty manner, the East Lothian MP did not express disagreement.
He stated: "At this critical stage in the discussions with the US administration, we cannot afford for individuals to be seeking to gain advantage domestically, when they should be united in their messaging internationally."
I believe that is what the Scottish people anticipate. I think that is what the Scotch whisky industry would like us to undertake.
A representative from the Scottish Government stated: 'The First Minister is fully committed to achieving a zero tariff for Scotch whisky.'
Read more- Could reducing US tariffs bring a £1 billion increase to Scotland's whisky sector during the heated Trump talks?
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