The European Committee of Wine Companies (CEEV) has expressed “profound disappointment” over the trade agreement between the European Union and the United States, which excludes wine from sectors exempt from the new maximum general tariff of 15%.
“This omission is especially worrying given wine’s status as a star European export product and its significant contribution to creating value throughout the American supply chain,” states the CEEV in a statement.
Wine companies consider it “urgent” to eliminate this tariff and “protect a sector that generates prosperity, sustainability, and connectivity.”
The CEEV reminds that the United States is the main destination market for European wines, and in 2024 alone, exports of this product amounted to more than 4.88 billion euros.
“The U.S. 15% tariff, in effect since the beginning of the month, is harming the sector and will continue to reduce our turnover, suspend investments, and decrease export volumes,” it states.
The warning indicates that export volumes could decrease by up to 10% immediately, causing long-term damage to market share and trade relations.
According to European companies in the sector, the situation will also harm the United States, for every dollar generated by European wine exports to the U.S., American distribution and hospitality sectors gain $4.50.
In this context, the CEEV insists that wine should be included in future talks between U.S. and EU authorities.
“We remain confident that our products will benefit from a special regime, exclusively applying MFN (most favored nation) tariffs,” it states.
While European wine and spirits are subject to a maximum 15% tariff by the United States under the agreement reached between Brussels and Washington, the European Commission stated on Thursday that it will seek to reduce the tariff applied to this category of products in future discussions with the U.S.
“This was one of the most important offensive interests of the European Union. Unfortunately, we did not manage to include this sector among those that would continue at the most favored nation level. I would like to add an important word, which is that we have not succeeded ‘yet’,” said the European Commissioner for Trade.
According to Maros Sefcovic, the negotiating teams of the two sides committed to continuing to explore which sectors could see tariff reductions in the future.
