Donald Trump’s trade chief has said that the outgoing US administration is negotiating with the UK to secure a mini-deal reducing trade tariffs - which could see a reduction in tariffs on Scotch whisky. Scotch whisky was badly affected when Mr Trump’s White House hit the EU with tariffs on £5.6 billion worth of goods in retaliation for state support given to Airbus. The EU responded with tariffs on £3 billion of US goods over subsidies given to Boeing but the UK will suspend those measures from January 1 after the post-Brexit transition period ends. But now trade representative Robert Lighthizer has suggested tariffs on Scotch whisky could be reduced if a post-Brexit pact is successful.