John Swinney will be asked about the impact of Donald Trump’s US tariffs on Scottish businesses at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday.
US President Donald Trump slapped a 10% tariff on US imports of UK goods on Wednesday evening during his “Liberation Day” announcement.
The tariff is the same level as the global “baseline” he set, meaning it could not have been any lower.
In the wake of the announcement on Thursday morning, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said there will “clearly be an economic impact” on both the UK and the rest of the world.
At FMQs, Swinney will be asked about the discussions his government has had with Westminster about the potential impact of the tariffs on Scottish business.
The questions will come right as Scottish businesses and politicians jet out to America for New York City’s annual Tartan week events.
In advance of his Tartan Week visit, Swinney previously described the US as a “priority trade partner”, pointing out that in 2023, Scotland exported nearly £4bn of goods to the US, with “roughly the same amount” flowing in the other direction.
In addition to tariffs, Labour MSP Katy Clark will ask Swinney whether or not the reported increased annual cost to Scotland’s prisons to over £77,000 per prisoner represents “good value for public money”.
The First Minister could also face questions about the future of the Grangemouth refinery in Falkirk ahead of a ministerial statement about Project Willow – a report which looked at options for the site as it prepares to close in the coming months – on Thursday afternoon.
FMQs will be broadcast from Holyrood at noon on Thursday.
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