The Distilled Spirits Council today welcomed news that the United States, Canada, and Mexico reached an agreement that will result in the prompt repeal of retaliatory tariffs on American Whiskey exports to Canada and Mexico.
“We thank the Administration for reaching an agreement to secure the removal of retaliatory tariffs on American Whiskey exports to two of our largest and most important export markets. With this critical issue now resolved, we look forward to joining the various efforts to support the prompt Congressional passage of U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which includes important benefits for our industry,” said Chris Swonger, President & CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.
Swonger added, “We are very encouraged by today’s news, and we hope the U.S. and our trading partners can build on this positive momentum to resolve all of the remaining retaliatory tariffs that our US distilled spirits exports face, particularly the European Union’s 25 percent tariff on American Whiskey.”
In response to the U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs, since July 1, 2018 Canada imposed a retaliatory tariff of 10 percent on all U.S. whiskey imports and Mexico imposed a retaliatory tariff of 25 percent on U.S. whiskeys since June 5, 2018.