The Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins has expressed concern about the possibility of European Union tariffs being applied to its wine competitors from the US.
The umbrella trade association, which brings together 25 national organisations from across the EU, flagged late last week that the European Commission has included wine imports from the US as “potential products which could be subject to future retaliation measures” in the current trade row between the two. The CEEV added that it believes wine should not appear on the commission’s list as it is “unrelated” to the dispute over aluminium and steel imports from the EU to the US.
“We are concerned to see US wines included in the EU list … ,” the organisation said. “We are dismayed, that once again, wine, alongside other agri-food products, would be be held hostage of an unrelated trade dispute.
“Retaliatory tariffs create economic uncertainty and result in layoffs, deferred investments and price increases across entire supply chain. Ultimately, it is businesses and consumers in both the EU and the US who will bear the costs.”
The same position was taken over in the US last week, by the ‘Toasts Not Tariffs’ coalition of organisation representing the beverage alcohol in the country. “We urge the US and EU to … engage in negotiations to resolve the underlying trade issues on steel and aluminium,” a spokesperson said.
In the latest development, US president Donald Trump warned on Thursday (13 March) that he would push for a 200% tariff on wine and spirits exports from the EU following the latter’s retaliatory preparation of a 50% tariff on imports of American whiskey from 1 April.
