Trump says he will remove all Irish whiskey tariffs as he ends two-day visit

ByEnda McClafferty, Niall McCracken, in Doonbeg, County Clare, Adam Mandeville and Ralph Hewitt, BBC News NI.

Key points

• On Saturday, Trump was in Dublin where he met with Taoiseach (Irish PM) Micheál Martin and Irish President Catherine Connolly.
• The presentation ceremony marked the end of Trump's two-day trip to Ireland before boarding Air Force One at Shannon Airport and departing for Washington.
• He created the announcement before handing over the winner's trophy at the Trump International golf resort in Doonbeg, Co Clare, to Irish Open winner Shane Lowry.
• More than 10, 000 individuals marched through Dublin on Saturday to show their opposition to the US president.

ByEnda McClafferty, Niall McCracken, in Doonbeg, County Clare, Adam Mandeville and Ralph Hewitt, BBC News NI. 13 September 2026, 06: 16 BST. Updated 1 hour ago.

US President Donald Trump confirmed he will lift all tariffs on Irish whiskey at the end of his two-day visit to Ireland.

While whiskey created in Northern Ireland or elsewhere in the UK has no tariff, whiskey distilled in the Republic of Ireland faces the standard 15% tariff which applies to EU goods entering the US.

It comes after Trump doubled down on his backing for a united Ireland and stated joining Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland was "one of the naturals of all time".

He spent day two of his visit to Ireland watching the final day of the Irish Open.

Addressing the crowd before the trophy presentation, Trump remarked he had discussed whiskey tariffs with Martin and with golfer Lowry. "Everybody's been bugging me, " he remarked.

They are saying would you do me a favour? It's so unfair what's going on.

"Could you possibly take the tariffs off of Irish whiskey and I said, on behalf of the United States of America, I am going to take the tariffs off Irish whiskey."

For context, the presentation ceremony marked the end of Trump's two-day trip to Ireland before boarding Air Force One at Shannon Airport and departing for Washington.

Whiskey tariff analysis – BBC News NI economics and business editor John Campbell.

Assuming the Trump tariffs on Irish whiskey are removed it will end the advantage that some Northern Ireland distillers had over competitors in the Republic of Ireland.

That is since producers north of the border were covered by the removal of tariffs on all UK-made whiskey which Trump unveiled in May.

All-island supply chains meant that some NI whiskey brands could not benefit from the earlier tariff cut.

Newer distilleries bottle whiskey produced by other firms while they wait for their own product to mature.

This service is dominated by the Great Northern Distillery in Dundalk, County Louth which produces whiskey under licence for brands throughout the island.

It means the NI distilleries bottling that liquid have been classified as EU rather than UK producers. Doubling down on united Ireland comments.

On Saturday, Trump remarked to journalists he would love to see a united Ireland while at a gathering with Micheál Martin.

Speaking on Sunday at his Doonbeg golf resort, he remarked it would be natural to put Ireland and Northern Ireland "together". He informed journalists after watching Lowry tee off.

He described what he remarked concerning a united Ireland as "a fairly routine comment".

"I've always loved the individuals of Ireland. It just seems to me you have Northern Ireland and Ireland, " he remarked.

It seems that one of the naturals of all time is to put them together. That's only my opinion, and by the way many people agree. The president sidestepped a question regarding Scottish independence.

"I won't talk about Scotland yet I will save that, " he remarked.

Asked regarding Prime Minister Andy Burnham's remarks that there would be no poll on Irish unity until a majority in Northern Ireland were probable to vote in favour, Trump continued: "Everybody says that and then things happen."

Trump's comments on a united Ireland may have targeted audience throughout the Atlantic. What's next after Donald Trump's united Ireland comments?

Meanwhile, the taoiseach remarked the president's remarks did not come as a "surprise" to him.

"He would create the point this is his view. He believes unity is the logical way for the island to be configured and organised, " Martin remarked.

He continued: "I think some of the reaction is an overreaction. It shouldn't be a surprise. He takes a different sort of perspective on things." Protests continue against Trump visit.

Others protesting against the visit arrived in buses to Doonbeg on Sunday, with regarding 100 protesters present.

In practice, a small crowd were moved from the president's hotel by Gardai (Irish police), Irish broadcaster RTÉ is reporting.

On Saturday evening, three women were arrested for trespassing on the golf links at Doonbeg and appeared at a special sitting of Ennis District Court.

Rev Steven Foster, a Methodist minister from Galway, attended the anti-Trump protest in Doonbeg.

"I'm here because Trump is the exact opposite of everything I stand for as a follower of Jesus, " he informed BBC News NI.

Foster continued: "As a church leader, it's important for me to be visible, and the church needs to be visible in this regard."

Foster remarked the "type of welcome he has been given sends out a terrible message". Golf course is a 'massive employer'.

Nevertheless, others have praised Trump for the benefits and jobs his golf course brings to the local area.

Martin Kelly is a local businessman from Doonbeg and remarked the village is "very fortunate" to have the Trump International Golf Course.

"It's a massive employer here to be honest with you, " he informed BBC News NI.

In short, trump says he will remove all Irish whiskey tariffs as he ends is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.