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Covid has been tough on business, and a new round of tariffs positioned to impact imported wine & spirits will make it even tougher. We know you’ve had a lot on your plate, and it’s hard to add one more thing, but we are calling you to take action to keep these tariffs off the table.
Summary
The United States Trade Office published an expanded product list on June 26, 2020 for additional tariffs in connection with the “Section 301 Large Civil Aircraft Dispute” with Europe. Every 180 days products on a tariff list are reviewed and subject to and can be added or removed, and the tariff rate increased or decreased.
Tariff decisions rest solely with the U.S. Executive office and USTR, and there are no Congressional permissions or reviews needed.
Public comments are accepted through July 26, 2020. The USTR is expected to publish results of this review on August 12.
Proposed duty and products affected
Up to 100% duties on thousands of products including wine, beer, distilled spirits and liqueurs/cordials from more than 25 EU countries including France, Germany, Spain, Austria, Portugal and the United Kingdom. Click here for the full list.
WHO IS AFFECTED
U.S. Consumers
U.S. Retailers
U.S. Distributors
U.S. Importers
E.U. Producers
TAKE ACTION NOW
Leave a comment opposing tariffs on wine, beer, distilled spirits and liqueurs/cordials – it will only take 5 minutes!
IMPORTANT – USTR is requesting detailed information, that we have outlined for you below.
How to complete your form to oppose these tariffs
[2a] – Include: Wine, Distilled Spirits
[2d] Current/former EU member state(s): Select ALL
[5] Comments – Your response should include the following:
Tariffs on wine, beer, distilled spirits and liqueurs/cordials are an extremely ineffective lever in influencing the behavior of the EU with respect to Airbus, or any other matter. USTR should carousel off current tariffs on wine, beer, distilled spirits and liqueurs/cordials and remove them for future consideration.
[6] Comments – Your response should include the following:
Tariffs on wine, beer, distilled spirits and liqueurs/cordials do disproportionately more damage to small and medium sized businesses and consumers in the U.S. than they do their targets in the EU. Price increases ultimately will have to be passed on to consumers, so U.S. consumers will be paying a penalty intended for the EU.
[7] Comments – Your response should include your own personal stories and specific details about economic impact that can help expand on the real-life damage these tariffs do to U.S. businesses, and on the small-business nature of the U.S. wine industry.
If you are a US business that buys wine
- Contact your representatives (Senate & House) and provide information about how these tariffs would affect you.
- Reference Section 301 Action: Enforcement of U.S. WTO Rights in Large Civil Aircraft Dispute, Docket ID: USTR-2020-0023
- Provide specific details expressing the economic impact for your business and their constituents. For example: loss of revenue, taxes, jobs
- Ask that they pass your letter to the United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer
- Join the US Wine Trade Alliance (free): uswinetradealliance.org | Facebook
Other resources
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