EU-US Trade Deal Excludes Wine, Spirits Tariff Exemption

The recent EU-U.S. trade agreement sets a 15% U.S. tariff on most European imports but notably excludes an exemption for the wine and spirits sector, according to EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic. While the deal does not currently provide tariff relief for these products, the European Commission remains committed to pursuing tariff reductions for wine and spirits in future negotiations. The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States expressed disappointment, emphasizing that without a permanent zero-tariff arrangement, American distillers face uncertainty for export growth and job planning. The agreement includes a six-month pause on retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports such as wine and spirits, which will last until February 2026, after which the EU may impose tariffs on U.S. products like bourbon. Industry representatives on both sides have argued that tariffs threaten growth and employment since products like cognac and champagne cannot be produced in the U.S. Efforts to reopen discussions on tariff exemptions for these sectors are ongoing, with the U.S. administration urged to engage in further negotiations.