EU Tariffs Slashed U.S. Whiskey Exports to Europe 21%, New U.S. Tariffs on European Wine, Spirits Could Cost 8,000 U.S. Jobs”There are no winners in a trade war,” a coalition of 15 international bev/al trade associations told U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and the European Union in separate letters. The groups renewed their request that the U.S. and European Union remove tariffs on each other’s’ wine and spirits “without delay.” The letter to Lighthizer was dispatched as the Trump Administration imposed 25% tariffs on EU wine and spirits. The move, the letter says, “will further damage a transatlantic industry that has already been negatively impacted by the EU’s retaliatory tariffs on American Whiskey.” The new U.S. tariffs “will further damage a transatlantic industry that has already been negatively impacted by the EU’s retaliatory tariffs on American Whiskey,” the letter to Lighthizer says, adding: “These tariffs are greatly harming the industry’s competitiveness, long-standing partnerships, consumers, workers and our farm suppliers.” In separate letters to EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom and EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan, the associations noted “U.S. and EU wines and spirits sectors have become very interconnected, with companies owning a range of European and American distinctive spirits and wines. “We have continued to work together with our respective governments to improve market access in other countries through the elimination of other tariffs, discriminatory taxes and other trade barriers to our exports.” In a joint statement, the 15 associations said: “Our industries are collateral damage in trade disputes that have nothing to do with the beverage alcohol sector.” They voiced concern that many U.S. wine and spirits exporters may face the increasing likelihood that the EU may respond to Trump’s 25% tariff by imposing more tariffs on U.S. wines and other U.S. spirits products. U.S. trade groups signing the letters include American Beverage Licensees, American Craft Spirits Association, American Distilled Spirits Association, Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S., Kentucky Distillers’ Association, National Association of Beverage Importers, Wine & Spirits Shippers Association and Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America. “There are no winners in a trade war,” a coalition of 15 international bev/al trade associations told U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and the European Union in separate letters. The groups renewed their request that the U.S. and European Union remove tariffs on each other’s’ wine and spirits “without delay.” The letter to Lighthizer was dispatched as the Trump Administration imposed 25% tariffs on EU wine and spirits. The move, the letter says, “will further damage a transatlantic industry that has already been negatively impacted by the EU’s retaliatory tariffs on American Whiskey.” The new U.S. tariffs “will further damage a transatlantic industry that has already been negatively impacted by the EU’s retaliatory tariffs on American Whiskey,” the letter to Lighthizer says, adding: “These tariffs are greatly harming the industry’s competitiveness, long-standing partnerships, consumers, workers and our farm suppliers.” In separate letters to EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom and EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan, the associations noted “U.S. and EU wines and spirits sectors have become very interconnected, with companies owning a range of European and American distinctive spirits and wines. “We have continued to work together with our respective governments to improve market access in other countries through the elimination of other tariffs, discriminatory taxes and other trade barriers to our exports.” In a joint statement, the 15 associations said: “Our industries are collateral damage in trade disputes that have nothing to do with the beverage alcohol sector.” They voiced concern that many U.S. wine and spirits exporters may face the increasing likelihood that the EU may respond to Trump’s 25% tariff by imposing more tariffs on U.S. wines and other U.S. spirits products. U.S. trade groups signing the letters include American Beverage Licensees, American Craft Spirits Association, American Distilled Spirits Association, Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S., Kentucky Distillers’ Association, National Association of Beverage Importers, Wine & Spirits Shippers Association and Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America.