President Trump continues to make waves in the spirits world with threats of international tariffs. With the U.S. threatening tariffs, other countries are responding with looming tariffs of their own.
Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) President and CEO Chris Swonger issues a statement in response to the EU Including bourbon on its proposed retaliatory tariff list.
“The suspension of the EU’s 25% retaliatory tariff on American Whiskey over the last three years has allowed U.S. distillers to begin rebuilding their presence in our largest export market,” said Distilled Spirits Council President and CEO Chris Swonger. “The EU’s decision to put Bourbon back on its retaliatory target list is a serious setback and deeply alarming. This decision threatens to undo the hard-won progress made by American distillers and will be a crushing blow to the recovery of U.S. spirits exports to the EU.
“We need President Trump’s leadership to negotiate a deal with the EU to return to the zero-for-zero tariff framework that has proven beneficial for the U.S. spirits and hospitality sectors. Restoring this model is essential to ensuring the continued growth and vitality for spirits producers, farmers, restaurant owners and bartenders across the United States.”
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A little tariff history.
- Due to the imposition of the EU’s retaliatory tariff in 2018, American Whiskey exports to the EU, the largest American Whiskey export market, plunged 20%, from $552 million to $440 million (2018-2021).
- During the last three years, American Whiskey exports to the EU surged nearly 60%, climbing from $439 million in 2021 to $699 million in 2024.
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) is the leading voice and advocate for distilled spirits in the United States.
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