First Minister John Swinney hopes to use Donald Trump's affinity for Scotland to avoid the prospect of tariffs being applied on imports to the US.
Trump will be sworn-in as the 47th president of the United States next Monday and has repeatedly vowed to introduce tariffs on all imports to the US.
Mr Swinney said he had expressed the importance of trade between the countries, especially Scotch whisky, during a call he held with the president-elect last month.
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.
Mr 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.
"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."