The European Commission has received the green light from EU member states to bring tariffs on US imports into play but it is understood the levies will exclude Bourbon and wine.
In a statement this afternoon, the EU’s executive arm confirmed it had received “the vote of approval” from its member states and that it expected to begin collecting duties on affected goods from next Tuesday (15 April).
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The counter-tariffs are in reaction to US levies on steel and aluminium imports from the EU. Today, Washington’s 20% tariff on all imports from the EU also came into effect.
While the Commission’s first and second set of tariffs were initially due to include levies on Bourbon and US wines, European wine trade body the Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins (CEEV) said it has been told these goods have been removed from the list, which is yet to be published.
Speaking to Just Drinks, Ignacio Sánchez Recarte, secretary general of the CEEV, said the Commission and its member states “reassured” the group on Monday (7 April) US wine and Bourbon would not be included in the incoming tariffs.
The Commission declined to comment on the topic when approached by Just Drinks.
In a statement on LinkedIn, Recarte added: “We welcome the European Commission’s decision to exclude wine from unrelated trade disputes, recognising the importance of keeping key sectors out of the crossfire.”
Following the EU’s announcement in mid-March of retaliatory tariffs in response to the steel and aluminium levies, US President Donald Trump warned the bloc he would impose a 200% tariff on the EU’s alcohol imports to the US. In a post on Truth Social at the time, Trump highlighted the EU’s “nasty” levy on US whiskey.
In an official statement today, the Commission said: “The EU considers US tariffs unjustified and damaging, causing economic harm to both sides, as well as the global economy. The EU has stated its clear preference to find negotiated outcomes with the US, which would be balanced and mutually beneficial.”
It added: “These countermeasures can be suspended at any time, should the US agree to a fair and balanced negotiated outcome.”
News on Bourbon’s removal from the EU tariffs list began circulating on Monday, with the Financial Times being one of the publications to break the story.
Responding to the reports today, US spirits trade group Distilled Council of the United States (DISCUS) said: “This would be great news and a huge sigh of relief for anxious distillers across the country who were staring down a potential 50% tariff on American whiskey within just a matter of days.
“It would be a positive first step toward getting the US-EU spirits sectors back to zero-for-zero tariffs and untangling distilled spirits products from wider trade disputes.”
Reports from Politico today indicate the Commission’s draft countermeasures list also includes a levy on orange juice, while Euractiv reported food items like soybeans and nuts will also face duties but these are not expected to apply until 1 December.
According to reports from the Financial Times on Monday, dairy products have also been removed from the EU’s list.
