First Minister John Swinney has flown to the United States to make a fresh appeal for better trade terms for Scotch whisky.
US President Donald Trump has imposed a 10% tax, known as a tariff, on whisky and most other UK goods when they enter the US market.
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has argued for an exemption or a relaxation of the rules for the lucrative export - a call supported by the Scottish and UK governments.
Swinney is staying with UK ambassador Lord Mandelson in Washington DC.
The first minister's spokesman refused to comment on whether Swinney was comfortable staying with Mandelson in the light of reports he was once a friend of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
