TRADE minister Ivan McKee has said he is "optimistic" following a meeting with a US official about tariffs on Scottish goods.
McKee met assistant US trade representative for Europe Dan Mullaney in Washington this week during a visit across the Atlantic.
The meeting covered tariffs imposed by the US in response to a trade dispute with the European Union, including a 25% increase on Scotch whisky.
The tariffs were levied following a ruling by the World Trade Organisation that state aid given to plane manufacturer Airbus was illegal.
Speaking after the meeting, McKee said: "The existing trade relationship between the US and Scotland is already valuable to both countries and so the recent introduction of tariffs is understandably causing major concern to many.
"No-one gains from these tariffs and we continue to urge the US and the EU to come to the negotiating table to draw a line under the long-running Airbus and Boeing disputes once and for all.
"Scotland's businesses are already under pressure from the impact the continuing uncertainty around Brexit is having on their ability to operate and the imposition of tariffs under WTO rules undermines any suggestion a potential free trade deal with the US could easily or quickly offset the damage done by Brexit.
"I met Mr Mullaney to explore what can be done to improve existing trade arrangements and raised concerns about the imposition of tariffs."
The trade minister also took the opportunity to lay out "Scotland's interests and priorities" to the US representative.
He said: "These include the need to preserve Scotland's NHS and our food standards, workers' rights and environmental safeguards."
McKee added: "The meeting was a productive one, and I'm optimistic that progress can be made and opportunities seized upon to further improve trade relations between our two nations."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel