DISCUS - Airbus and WTO Reach Agreement Which Could Lead to the End of US and EU Tariffs

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States – DISCUS along with many state distillery guilds from across the United States along with many other organization in the U.S. and Europe have worked together to present a united front in helping to get retaliatory tariffs removed. In total, 113 organizations have signed an agreement to reiterate their call for the permanent removal of tariffs on sectors unrelated to the ongoing transatlantic trade disputes.

In particular much of the distilled spirits industry has been hit with a 25% tariff. That number was scheduled to double to 50% but was narrowly delayed but is still looming.

Related Story – Distillers Breathe a Sigh of Relief as Doubling of Retaliatory Tariffs on American Whiskey to the EU Temporarily Delayed

In advance of the upcoming EU-U.S. summit in Brussels, the undersigned 113 organizations have released the following statement in advance of President Biden’s upcoming summit urging for the permanent removal of these unfair tariffs.

Here is the statement the collective group released in advance of President Biden’s upcoming summit.

“The transatlantic relationship is of enormous economic importance to our sectors, and we are eager to see it protected and nurtured. We welcome the positive steps to de-escalate the disputes over the past few months and hope that both sides can build on this positive momentum to secure the permanent removal of retaliatory tariffs on our products.

“We are encouraged by the decision to temporarily suspend tariffs imposed in connection to the World Trade Organization Airbus-Boeing disputes and by the ongoing U.S. and EU efforts to settle the dispute before the suspension ends. Our strong desire is to see an agreement before July 11 to permanently remove these tariffs. However, predictability is essential for businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. Our sectors, therefore, request advance notice that the tariffs will not return, even if there is a need for additional time to negotiate, to account for shipping times between the EU and the U.S.

“We are also encouraged by the recent U.S.-EU joint statement on addressing global steel and aluminum excess capacity, and commend the EU’s decision to postpone the second tranche of rebalancing tariffs until December 1. While this six-month respite provides reassurance to affected sectors, we call on both parties to secure an agreement before the December deadline to permanently remove existing tariffs and not to introduce new tariffs. Indeed, products across a range of sectors continue to face destructive tariffs that are harming competitiveness and negatively impacting manufacturers, producers, farmers and logistics providers and many others on both sides of the Atlantic.

“We are hopeful the recent positive momentum in both disputes will lead to the permanent removal of tariffs on unrelated sectors and an agreement not to introduce new tariffs in these transatlantic disputes. We call on our leaders to intensify negotiations to ensure that this happens without delay. Removing tariffs on unrelated sectors is essential to create the necessary certainty and stability to grow the transatlantic economy as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Securing the permanent removal of tariffs on unrelated sectors will also allow both sides to establish a positive transatlantic trade agenda and focus on common areas of interest.”

The collective group is made up of 113 trade and professional organizations from both sides of the Atlantic.

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Here is the complete list of signatories.

ACEM – European Association Of Motorcycle Manufacturers
Agriculture Transportation Association
AIJN – European Fruit Juices Association
American Apparel & Footwear Association
American Bakers Association
American Beverage Licensees
American Chemistry Council
American Craft Spirits Association
American Cranberry Growers Association
American Distilled Spirits Alliance
American Distilling Institute
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Peanut Council
American Single Malt Whiskey Commission
American Soybean Association
American Sweet Potato Marketing Institute
APPLiA – Home Appliance Europe
Arizona Craft Distillers Guild
Associated Equipment Distributors
Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association
BNIC – Bureau National Interprofessionnel Du Cognac
California Artisanal Distillers Guild
CAOBISCO – Chocolate, Biscuits And Confectionery Of Europe
Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association
CECE – Committee For European Construction Equipment
CECIMO – European Association Of The Machine Tool Industries
CEEV – Comité Européen Des Entreprises Vin
CEFIC – The European Chemical Industry Council
CEMA  – European Agricultural Machinery Industry Association
CEO – Comité Européen De L’Outillage
Cheese Importers Association Of America
CLITRAVI – Liaison Centre For The Meat Processing Industry In The European Union
COCERAL – European Association Of Trade In Cereals, Oilseeds, Pulses, Olive Oil, Oils And Fats, Animal Feed And Agrosupply
Colorado Distillers Guild
Connecticut Spirits Trail
Corn Refiners Association
Cranberry Institute
CRN – Council For Responsible Nutrition
Distilled Spirits Council Of The United States
Distillers Association Of North Carolina
Drinks Ireland
ECCIA – Europan Cultural And Creative Industries Alliance
ECF – European Coffee Federation
EDA – European Dairy Association
EFFA – European Flavour Association
EPTA – European Power Tools Association
Espirituosos España – Federación Española De Espirituosos
EUCOLAIT – European Association Of Dairy Trade
EURATEX – The European Apparel And Textile Confederation
EUROMAT – European Gaming And Amusement Federation
European Boating Industry
Farmers For Free Trade
FEC – Federation Of European Manufacturers Of Cookware And Cutlery
FEMA – Flavor & Extract Manufacturers Association Of The United States
FEVS – Fédération Des Exportateurs De Vins & Spiritueux De France
Florida Citrus Mutual
Florida Citrus Packers
Florida Craft Spirits Association
Food Export-Northeast
Freshfel Europe – The European Fresh Produce Association
FRUCOM – European Federation Of The Trade In Dried Fruit, Edible Nuts, Processed Fruit & Vegetables And Processed Fishery Products
Idaho Distillers Association
Illinois Craft Distillers Association
Independent Restaurant Coalition
Intergraf – European Federation For Print And Digital Communication
Iowa Distillers Alliance
Kentucky Distillers’ Association
Louisiana Distillers Guild
Maryland Distillers Guild
Michigan Craft Distillers Association
Montana Distillers Guild
Napa Valley Vintners
National Association Of Beverage Importers
National Association Of State Departments Of Agriculture
National Association Of Wine Retailers
National Council Of Chain Restaurants
National Fisheries Institute
National Grain And Feed Association
National Restaurant Association
National Retail Federation
NCA – National Confectioners Association
New Hampshire Distillers Guild
New Jersey Craft Distillers Guild
New York State Distillers Guild
NMMA – National Marine Manufacturers Association
North American Shippers Association
NY Wine Industry Association
Ohio Distiller’s Guild
Oregon Distillers Guild
Oregon Wine Council
Pennsylvania Distillers Guild
Personal Care Products Council
PROFEL – European Association Of Fruit And Vegetable Processing Industries
South Carolina Craft Distillers Guild
SpiritsEUROPE
Tennessee Distillers Guild
Texas Distilled Spirits Association
The Maryland Wineries Association
U.S. GRAINS COUNCIL
U.S. Wine Trade Alliance
United States Bartenders’ Guild
United States Sweet Potato Council
USA Rice
USMMA – United States Motorcycle Manufacturers Association
Virginia Distillers Association
Washington Wine Institute
West Coast Seafood Processors Association
Willamette Valley Wineries Association
Wine & Spirits Wholesalers Of America
Wine And Spirits Shippers Association
Wine Institute
WineAmerica
Wisconsin State Cranberry Association

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