First Minister John Swinney has hailed the removal of US tariffs on Scotch whisky as a major boost for Scotland's flagship export industry.
Speaking during a visit to Kentucky, where he met leaders from the bourbon industry, Mr Swinney said the decision would create fresh opportunities for growth and strengthen trade links between Scotland and the United States.
The move follows an announcement by US President Donald Trump in May that a 10% tariff on whisky imports would be removed.
The United States remains the largest overseas market for Scotch whisky, with exports worth almost £1 billion annually.
Mr Swinney's visit to Kentucky came after he attended Scotland's opening World Cup match in Boston, where the national team secured a 1-0 victory over Haiti in their first men's World Cup appearance for 28 years.
During the trip, the First Minister also welcomed reports of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran.
He said stability in the region would be important for international trade and could help ease pressures that have contributed to rising living costs.
Mr Swinney said: "The removal of tariffs on Scotch whisky is an essential opportunity for the Scotch whisky industry, the Kentucky bourbon industry, and the cask industry to prosper and to expand.
"It was important that we got the tariffs lifted with the agreement of President Trump to make sure that trade could flow effectively.
"It’s a win-win on both sides of the Atlantic, but fundamentally, it creates a great opportunity for the Scotch whisky industry to thrive."
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He added: "Obviously, we’ve been arguing for some time for an end to conflict and fighting, and the fact that we are now in a situation where there is a peace deal in place is very welcome news.
"We now need to make sure that there’s progress to ensure the flow of goods and services from the Middle East, because that’s been impacting on the cost of living."
