Whiskey on the rocks: Irish whiskey distillers caught in the crossfire of US-EU trade war

Irish producers fear devastating US tariffs as the EU and US clash over trade policies and retaliatory measures

Casks stored in Dingle Distillery. 40% of the €1bn in whiskey exports went to the US last year. Picture: Domnick Walsh 

With a tit-for-tat trade war on the table, the European Union is hoping for more talks with US officials to avoid unnecessary harm on both sides of the Atlantic.

Its retaliatory measures, which were proposed in response to 25% tariffs on European aluminium and steel, have been delayed until mid-April to allow for further discussion, but for now, they include a proposed 50% tariff on American whiskey.