Posted on 08/06/2025 8:17:46 AM PDT by lasereye
The United States' 15% tariff on EU goods could reduce the value of alcohol sales by almost $2 billion and put 25,000 U.S. jobs at risk, a group of 57 alcohol industry groups wrote in a letter sent to President Trump on Tuesday.
The letter was signed by organisations representing major European producers, including Diageo and Pernod Ricard, U.S. whiskey and wine producers, as well as glass suppliers, retailers and restaurants.
Washington and Brussels agreed last month to a 15% import tariff on most European Union goods after talks that halved the threatened rate and averted a bigger trade war.
The negotiations did not result in the exemption for wine and spirits that the industries had pressed for.
The letter was addressed to Trump from the Toasts Not Tariffs Coalition, which is formed of trade associations mostly from the wine and spirits supply chain. It called for a better deal ensuring "fair and reciprocal trade" for those industries.
It said 25,000 U.S. jobs, including in restaurants and nightclubs, and nearly $2 billion in industry sales were at risk from the 15% tariff. It hits the sector just ahead of its busiest period, spanning October, November and December. The letter did not explain the industry's calculations.
"As we approach the critical holiday season, a period that is essential to the success of our industries, we implore you to secure this important deal for the U.S. as soon as possible," the letter read.
In a statement, the industry representatives said the tariffs would push up menu prices, damage American businesses and exacerbate existing problems and challenges.
The U.S. is by far the largest market for many European wine and spirit makers, while Europe is a major export destination for U.S. spirits like bourbon.
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
There're others that haven't gone into effect yet, like new reciprocal tariff rates on roughly 70 countries to take effect starting Aug. 7.
I can't even figure out what you're saying.
No worries. Get back to me when your reading comprehension is better.
You are clueless
Simple. Don’t buy foreign booze.
Their claim that there are no tarrifs on YS booze in those countries is not true.
If it is then how does a $60 bottle of Jack cost twice that in Japan?
US
I am not a teatotaler.
I decided alcohol was no good, for me.
I do not browbeat someone who does.
As I said,before, for me, since 1986.
As to the whining wine and booze makers..... If America went to full blown WW2 type antics, would America really be put back a bit by less wine products, since corn and grain might be needed for the war effort?
I can’t figure out how your labeling alcohol a “luxury” means that the tariffs are not imposing a choice of either
1) changing their lifestyle or
2) paying more.
You are disputing that right? Because you said “Nobody is forcing anybody to either spend more, or change lifestyles”.
Or are you agreeing that’s the case and supporting it, since it’s a “Luxury - not a life necessity”?
That’s why I said I can’t figure out what you’re talking about.
Japan is not in Europe.
That’s much more civil than my comment would have been.
That’s much more civil than my comment would have been.
So people are gonna stop drinking because some imports are a little more expensive? Just up the price on the domestic stuff and it’ll be a wash.
I think you should go back to my original post, because that post is the only argument I was making.
My argument with you stemmed from your assertion that I was in favor of forcing changes to lifestyle therefore leftist thinking.
We are faced with decisions everyday that one could assert are forcing us to ‘change lifestyles.’ I find that assertion ridiculous. We are forced to make choices. Some can afford choices of higher cost. Others maybe not so. We live within our means, or should anyway.
The only only things that we have no choice on are our basic instincts. We must breath and eat, and provide ourselves through work the means to breath and eat. Our nature tells us this. Luxuries are choices.
Why have you chosen this as a point of argument? Is an alcohol import tariff any different than a steel import tariff or a textile import tariff as it applies to leveling the playing field? Are you arguing against all of Trumps tariffs or is this one singled out for a reason?
Oh, and regarding the EU tariff on alcohol, seems that the EU just suspended that again yesterday, which means that Trumps tariff policy is working, as in negotiations are being taken seriously by our competitors.
You posted this, from the group, “the letter stated, pointing out that nearly 85% of U.S. spirits exports go to countries that eliminated tariffs on all U.S. spirits (such as EU, UK, Canada, Mexico, Japan and Australia),”
Clearly Japan is listed.
Sales at risk
Nothing happend yet but the anti Trump group will gouge the prices like they have with everything else.
Trump caused it man yeah he did it........................
I don’t think this will have much an effect. You’re right about everything though. We can’t grow bananas, don’t make scotch, or real Champagne. But with alcohol. I don’t think it will cut sales at all. Just since Biden’s inflation policies I have seen the price of a 6 pack of beer go from about $6 to $14. A pint at the pub was 4 and is now 7 or 8 depending on the time. Pubs and bars are as packed as ever and there is no slow down of beer sold. Heck. Visit a place like Singapore where a bottle of booze there is 4 times more than what we get it in the USA. People still drink like crazy.
The point of the tariffs is that if you do drink as an American, drink more Kentucky Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey instead of Mexican Tequila, French Cognac, or Scotch Whisky.
I’m not a teetotaler, but I don’t criticize anyone who is-alcohol is a personal choice item, like tobacco, weed-legal or otherwise-etc none of those things are necessary for health or life. I really can’t object to tariffs on alcoholic beverages from another country-it isn’t like imported wine, beer and hard booze is inexpensive already-don’t want to pay more, then drink American booze.
On the rare occasions I do drink, it is US produced wine or beer-no imports-I like to support the industry right here. I have never been able to drink much-and never hard liquor-I have a small frame, do a physical job and follow a natural organic paleo-type diet-I have very little body fat to absorb alcohol. By the time I was 18, I knew that even one little glass of brandy or whiskey will put me under the table-but if I drank it, the whiskey would be from Kentucky, and the brandy from Northern Mexico-not France...
maybe they should consider selling other products? as so many stores have to do lately since things can easily turn from good to bad quickly in many industries.
Stop looking to fed govt to fix your poor business plan alcohol sellers.
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