The Irish Whiskey Association has said that new US tariffs on alcohol threatened by US president Donald Trump have the "potential to be devastating" for the industry.

Just a day after meeting Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Washington, the US president has said that he will shortly place a 200% tariff on all wines, champagnes and alcoholic products coming out of Europe.

The statement follows news from the European Union, which said it will impose counter tariffs on €26 billion ($28bn) worth of US goods from next month.

On social media, President Trump said: "The European Union, one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the world, which was formed for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the United States, has just put a nasty 50% tariff on whiskey.

"If this tariff is not removed immediately, the US will shortly place a 200% tariff on all wines, champagnes and alcoholic products coming out of France and other EU represented countries".

Members of the Irish Whiskey Association are also in Washington this week to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

Director of the Irish Whiskey Association, Eoin Ó Catháin said that "there is no winner in a trade war".

"The imposition of tariffs will impact on our businesses and our consumers. Having our sector implicated in this dispute puts jobs, investments and businesses at risk and has the potential to be devastating for Irish whiskey," Ó Catháin said.

The association said that the EU and US governments introduced tariff-free trade in 1997 and saw the value of the sector increase "exponentially" in the years that followed, benefitting European and American businesses and consumers alike. 

"We call on them to continue that legacy and maintain the tariff free environment for EU and US whiskey alike. We note that there is no tariff currently in place, and now is the time for dialogue," Ó Catháin said.

He added that the association will continue to advocate for the "reciprocity" enjoyed since 1997 to be reinstated - "The need to remove spirits from this dispute is immediate, and the clock is ticking," Ó Catháin said.

Irish whiskey sales exceeded 15 million cases last year, reflecting sustained global demand, according to the latest figures from Bord Bia and the International Wine and Spirits Record (IWSR).

Ireland exports 90% of its whiskey, making it largely an international product, with Jameson marked as a ‘top 10’ international brand.