Moray Chamber of Commerce has added its voice to a growing chorus of concern over the impact of punitive US export tariffs on three of the area’s key industries.
Chamber chief executive Sarah Medcraf yesterday said it was unacceptable that distillers, cashmere producers and shortbread-makers were being used as “bargaining chips” in an unrelated trade row between America and the EU.
Her comments came in the wake of concerns raised over the 25% tariff by Walkers shortbread boss Jim Walker, Simon Cotton, chief executive of Johnstons of Elgin and Ewen Mackintosh, managing director of whisky specialists, Gordon and MacPhail
Ms Medcraf said: “It is impossible not to feel hugely disappointed about the tariffs. Understandably Moray Speyside will be feeling ‘targeted’ as a result.
“We’ve some of Scotland’s most wonderful international brands and to be caught in the middle of a political fight is a position we cannot afford.
“We know our businesses are resilient, because it is a very tough time to be in business and they are still delivering, but their armour will start to wear thin. We know that luxury cashmere, Scotch whisky and shortbread is sought after all over the world and it seems they are being used as a future bargaining chip and this is unacceptable.”
A World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling last month allowed the US to impose the increased duty on £6.1 billion of goods it imports from the EU, including malt whisky, cashmere and shortbread.
The decision found that the European Union had failed to remove subsidies for European aircraft-maker Airbus, causing a loss in sales for US rival plane maker Boeing.