The European Commission will continue pushing for a preferential tariff on wine and spirits exports to the United States, aiming to avoid the 15% duty applied under the current EU-U.S. trade deal, Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said Thursday.
“This one we didn’t get in. But there is a clear commitment from the European Commission to put it back on the table,” Sefcovic said when asked if lower tariffs for the sector had been secured.
His comments came after the EU and U.S. outlined commitments from last month’s deal, which imposed a 15% U.S. tariff on most imports from the bloc, including autos, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and lumber. The same rate was applied to EU wine and spirits exports, despite industry lobbying for a lower or zero tariff.
Analysts warn this could mean higher prices for U.S. buyers of French Champagne, Irish whiskey, and Italian Prosecco, with tariffs affecting nearly $10 billion worth of alcohol imports each year. Major brands impacted include Diageo’s Guinness and Pernod Ricard’s Jameson Irish whiskey.
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States called for permanent zero tariffs on both sides and expressed disappointment at the lack of preferential treatment. “Without a return to zero-for-zero tariffs, American distillers lack the certainty to plan for exports and job growth,” the group said, urging continued talks with the Trump administration.
The message was echoed by spiritsEUROPE, whose director general Herve Dumesny called for swift negotiations. “We urge both sides to stay at the table and deliver a full return to zero-for-zero, removing U.S. tariffs on EU spirits and lifting any suspended EU measures on U.S. products,” he said.
The EU announced on August 5 a six-month suspension of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports, including distilled spirits and wine, according to the U.S. spirits council.
