Scotch Whisky Association urges U.S. and EU to end trade stand-off

The Scotch Whisky Association on Tuesday urged the United States and the European Union to end a trade dispute and avoid harmful tariffs that would damage both economies after Washington threatened tariffs on $4 billion goods including the spirit.

"Exports of Scotch Whisky to the US have been zero tariffs for twenty years, so it is disappointing that Scotch Whisky has been drawn into this dispute," a spokesman for the Scotch Whisky Association said after the U.S. Trade Representative's announcement.

"The Scotch Whisky industry has consistently opposed the imposition of tariffs, which harms economies on both sides of the Atlantic which depend on trade for their continued prosperity ... We continue to urge the UK government, the EU and the US government to resolve this situation."