'Scotland must switch whisky exports from America to Canada'
Canada does not yet rank in the top ten export destination, with exports by volume to the country remaining flat, according to the latest report from the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).
Scotch Whisky is a near billion pound export market for Scotland in America. (Image: Colin Mearns) In 2022, Canada was the 12th largest market for Scotch Whisky.
That year, the SWA International director Ian McKendrick stated that Canada is a "growing market" for Scotch Whisky, reaching over £100 million in 2021 and exports have grown by over 65% in the last decade.
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Speaking exclusively to The Herald yesterday, Mr Greer said: 'What we want to see the Scottish Government and John Swinney do is de-risk Scotland's economy.
"By that, we mean supporting businesses that currently export to America to find alternative markets."
The Scottish Green MSP believes this would protect Scotland against future tariffs expected to be imposed by the Trump administration this year.
He added: 'Scotch whisky sells in the United States but there's a massive risk to it because of tariffs.
"We should be trying to switch as many of those scotch whisky exports as possible to markets like Canada which are much more stable, much less risky and where we can protect Scotland's interests better.
'Donald Trump's position on tariffs changes on a day-to-day basis. There's no way to accurately predict what he is going to do. There's no way to charm him into excluding Scotland or specific products like whisky from those tariffs.'
Ahead of the US president's visit to Scotland later this month, Mr Greer has urged the First Minister to not put on what he described as "the charm offensive" with Mr Trump.
Donald Trump is expected to visit Scotland later this month. (Image: Andrew Milligan) He told The Herald: 'The Scottish Greens were not impressed when John Swinney attempted the charm offensive with Donald Trump and other world leaders have tried the same.
'His initial phone call with Donald Trump after he won the 2024 election was, in our view, totally unnecessary. The meeting with John Swinney and Eric Trump was entirely unnecessary.
"The Greens want to see the Scottish Government focus on reducing the risk to Scotland from a Trump presidency. You don't do that by charming him, you do that by moving your interests elsewhere."
Mr Greer has also committed to 'take on the super rich' as he said one way to do so is to end the property tax break the King currently receives.
King Charles III speaks to a member of Royal Company of Archers, The King's Bodyguard Scotland, at the Ceremony of the Keys in the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, as part of his trip to Scotland for Holyrood Week. (Image: Jane Barlow) Mr Greer had lodged proposals to the Housing (Scotland) Bill that would close the loophole allowing the King to purchase property in Scotland without paying any Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT).
'It's indefensible that one of the richest people in this country and one of the largest land and property owners in this country is specifically exempt from paying a tax that everybody else in the country has to pay,' he said.
Mr Ross does believe LBTT 'could be more progressive' but does not believe the tax should be reduced for low and middle earners struggling to pay taxes like this.
He told The Herald: 'The problem with reducing LBTT at any level would leave you with hundreds of millions of pounds worse off. Anyone who wants to make those sort of tax cuts needs to be honest about public services to balance the books.
'We all need to pay towards living in a civilised society where the state is able to support people.
'We cannot tackle issues like waiting lists in the NHS or child poverty without tax to fund public services that we all need. LBTT raises hundreds of millions of pounds that goes directly into those public services.'
Announcing his bid to become Scottish Greens co-leader in Glasgow's West End on Thursday, Mr Greer told The Herald he 'makes no secret' that fellow candidate Gillian Mackay is 'one of his closest friends' and he is 'really happy she is running', adding that they share 'similar visions'.
However, he said no decision to form a coalition to stand for party leadership has been made between them.
Ross Greer at the Glasgow launch of his Green party leadership bid (Image: Gordon Terris) Asked if they will form a joint leadership bid, he said: 'We've not made a decision about anything like that. We both want to see everybody lay out their visions. It's our members who choose our leaders.
'I'm really excited to hear her vision for the party, though this week in particular, she does have other priorities in mind because she has just had a wee boy.
'My first conversation with Gillian after this campaign launch will be about what presents I'm bringing her wee boy. I think we leave talking about the leadership contest for at least a few more days.'
Mr Greer put his hat in the ring to lead the left-wing party after veteran MSP Patrick Harvie indicated he would not run in the latest leadership election. He will remain in place until new co-leaders are elected.
Mr Greer, a self-described 'eco-socialist', joins current co-leader Lorna Slater and MSP Ms Mackay in the race.
He told PA News agency his party is not looking to strike deals with other parties 'at this point' ahead of the Holyrood elections in 2026.
The West of Scotland MSP vowed to make his party 'bolder and braver' as he launched his leadership bid in Glasgow.
In a visit to Glasgow on Thursday, Mr Greer insisted his party was united, amid calls from some members for it to become more radical.
The politician announced universal free bus travel as one of the key policies of his campaign.
The move builds on the Green-led free bus travel scheme for under-22s, something won during the Bute House Agreement (BHA) between the SNP and Greens. Pensioners are also entitled to the benefit.
Mr Greer was a key architect of the BHA and at his campaign event lauded his party's achievements in government and the policy concessions it won from the SNP.
The 31-year-old, who entered Holyrood when he was 21, did not rule out a return to power-sharing or co-operation agreements with other parties again.
But he said such a deal was "extremely unlikely" to be made with Labour.
He is open to working with the SNP once more but admitted the deputy first minister Kate Forbes could make it 'really hard' for a future agreement.
Asked his red-line in striking a deal with the SNP, Mr Greer said: 'Red lines are for our members to set collectively through our democratic processes.
'We don't know who's going to be in an SNP cabinet after the next election. Those are decisions in the first instances for their party to make.
'It is quite clear that it would be really hard for the Greens and Kate Forbes to come to an agreement in Scotland because we are quite far apart.
"It's very clear where the Scottish Greens disagree with Kate Forbes, particularly on LGBT equality, but also on the economy."
Mr Greer did say, however, his views and the views of those in his party on LGBT equality remain 'entirely unchanged'.
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