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| I'll use Trump's Scottish links in tariff talks - FM | I'll use Trump's Scottish links in tariff talks - FM |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Swinney: I will work with Trump for low whisky tarriffs | Swinney: I will work with Trump for low whisky tarriffs |
| The first minister has vowed to use Donald Trump's affinity for Scotland in a bid to avoid the prospect of tariffs being applied on imports to the US. | The first minister has vowed to use Donald Trump's affinity for Scotland in a bid to avoid the prospect of tariffs being applied on imports to the US. |
| John Swinney said he had expressed the importance of trade between the countries, especially Scotch whisky, during a call he held with the US president-elect last month. | John Swinney said he had expressed the importance of trade between the countries, especially Scotch whisky, during a call he held with the US president-elect last month. |
| He said the issue of taxes was not directly discussed but said Trump spoke warmly about his Scottish roots and business links. | He said the issue of taxes was not directly discussed but said Trump spoke warmly about his Scottish roots and business links. |
| Trump, who will be inaugurated on 20 January, has repeatedly vowed to introduce tariffs on all imports to the US. | Trump, who will be inaugurated on 20 January, has repeatedly vowed to introduce tariffs on all imports to the US. |
| Swinney said he spoke to the president-elect a few weeks ago during a call instigated by Trump. | Swinney said he spoke to the president-elect a few weeks ago during a call instigated by Trump. |
| And the first minister, who publicly backed Kamala Harris before the US election, said the president-elect was open to further calls between the pair. | And the first minister, who publicly backed Kamala Harris before the US election, said the president-elect was open to further calls between the pair. |
| Swinney told BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show Trump wanted the call to "express his enthusiasm for Scotland". | Swinney told BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show Trump wanted the call to "express his enthusiasm for Scotland". |
| He also said he was "very warm and positive" about the country where his mother was born in 1912. | He also said he was "very warm and positive" about the country where his mother was born in 1912. |
| Swinney said they did not specifically discuss tariffs, but he had expressed the importance that he attached to trade for the whisky industry. | Swinney said they did not specifically discuss tariffs, but he had expressed the importance that he attached to trade for the whisky industry. |
| He said: "I will use that as a basis of proceeding with negotiations in discussions with President Trump. | He said: "I will use that as a basis of proceeding with negotiations in discussions with President Trump. |
| "What he also said in the call was if I ever needed a further conversation with him, he'd be very welcome to taking that forward." | "What he also said in the call was if I ever needed a further conversation with him, he'd be very welcome to taking that forward." |
| During his campaign, Trump repeatedly promised to impose a blanket 20% tariff on all imports into the US, and a 60% tax on imports from China. | During his campaign, Trump repeatedly promised to impose a blanket 20% tariff on all imports into the US, and a 60% tax on imports from China. |
| Analysis suggested that if he followed through with his plans, it could cost the UK £22bn. | Analysis suggested that if he followed through with his plans, it could cost the UK £22bn. |
| Donald Trump owns two golf courses in Scotland and will open a third later this year | Donald Trump owns two golf courses in Scotland and will open a third later this year |
| The first minister said Trump also spoke of his love for Scotland during their call on 10 December. | The first minister said Trump also spoke of his love for Scotland during their call on 10 December. |
| Swinney said: "He's very positive about Scotland, he's enthused about Scotland, he talked very warmly about his mum's roots in Lewis. | Swinney said: "He's very positive about Scotland, he's enthused about Scotland, he talked very warmly about his mum's roots in Lewis. |
| "He talked about his pride in the business interests that he's taken forward at Turnberry and at Balmedie in the golf courses. | "He talked about his pride in the business interests that he's taken forward at Turnberry and at Balmedie in the golf courses. |
| "So he's got an affinity and a warmth towards Scotland and if that means it helps us to avoid tariffs that might be damaging to legitimate and important, critical, economic interests in Scotland then don't be surprised if this first minister of Scotland uses that channel to try to secure that outcome." | "So he's got an affinity and a warmth towards Scotland and if that means it helps us to avoid tariffs that might be damaging to legitimate and important, critical, economic interests in Scotland then don't be surprised if this first minister of Scotland uses that channel to try to secure that outcome." |
| Trump's mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born on Lewis in the Outer Hebrides and emigrated to the US when she was 18. | Trump's mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, was born on Lewis in the Outer Hebrides and emigrated to the US when she was 18. |
| He is expected to visit Scotland this summer to mark the opening of his new golf course in Aberdeenshire at his Balmenie resort. | He is expected to visit Scotland this summer to mark the opening of his new golf course in Aberdeenshire at his Balmenie resort. |
| The president-elect also owns the Trump Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire. | The president-elect also owns the Trump Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire. |
| Swinney's decision to back Harris was described as an "insult" by his company, Trump International, given the Republican's candidate's business interests in Scotland. | Swinney's decision to back Harris was described as an "insult" by his company, Trump International, given the Republican's candidate's business interests in Scotland. |
| His son, Eric, later described the decision as "nasty" but added Trump "is not going to lose any sleep" over the remarks. | His son, Eric, later described the decision as "nasty" but added Trump "is not going to lose any sleep" over the remarks. |
| Nicola Sturgeon, John Swinney and Alex Salmond - pictured here in 2011 - worked together at the top of the SNP for many years | Nicola Sturgeon, John Swinney and Alex Salmond - pictured here in 2011 - worked together at the top of the SNP for many years |
| Also on the programme, Swinney was asked about comments Nicola Sturgeon made about her late predecessor, Alex Salmond, external. | Also on the programme, Swinney was asked about comments Nicola Sturgeon made about her late predecessor, Alex Salmond, external. |
| Sturgeon said in an interview with the Financial Times newspaper that Salmond, who died in October, "would be really rough on people," adding that "many times [she] intervened to stop him." | |
| Swinney told the Sunday Show: "I think it's pretty well documented that Alex could be quite brisk with people and sometimes we all witnessed that. | |
| "And sometimes we all had to say look, that's not on. And that's the way it was." | |
| Salmond's widow, Moira, later said recent comments about her husband had caused the family "great distress". | |
| In a statement, released to the Press Association, Ms Salmond said: "Those attacking him must know that the law does not allow us, his family, to protect his reputation from being defamed now that he is gone. | |
| "Attacks by the living on the dead will seem to many as deeply unfair. | |
| "My wish, and sincere hope, is that these attacks will now stop." |