VDP Expects 17 Percent Tariff on Wine

According to information from the Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates (VDP), wine and sparkling wine could be subject to tariffs of up to 17 percent upon import into the USA. As the association reports, a trade agreement between the EU and the USA is therefore imminent.

The VDP has therefore submitted a letter to the European Commission, pointing out “serious consequences for the wine industry on both sides of the Atlantic.” The USA is also the most important export market for the German wine industry. The US negotiating delegation has already been convinced – also through the arguments of the US Wine Trade Alliance (USWTA) – that European wines do not pose a threat to the US wine industry, but rather “create significant economic added value for importers, distributors, trade, and gastronomy,” writes the VDP. The so-called trade deficit of the USA due to wine imports is, in fact, a significant source of value creation for American companies, which would be severely affected by tariffs. The letter, which is also addressed to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, concludes with the sentence: “We therefore urge you to ensure that wine – similar to other product groups – remains exempt from US tariffs.”

The VDP regrets that wine has apparently fallen out of focus in the ongoing discussions between the trade delegations of the EU and the USA. A viable solution is comparatively much easier to achieve than for other sectors that have apparently been prioritized by the EU delegation.

(al)