“We strongly oppose the inclusion of distilled spirits products in any proposed retaliation list. These tariffs, if imposed, will have numerous unintended negative consequences on U.S. jobs, U.S. consumers and many U.S. companies that export to the EU. U.S. companies–from farmers, to suppliers to retailers–are already being negatively impacted by the imposition of retaliatory tariffs by key trading partners on certain U.S. distilled spirits resulting from other trade disputes, and these additional tariffs will only inflict further harm. Since the imposition of EU tariffs on American Whiskey over a year ago, American Whiskey exports to the EU have declined 18 percent.”
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Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. is the leading voice & advocate for distilled spirits in the United States.
Additional data:
- Imports of Scotch Whisky reached $1.4 billion in 2018, up 8 percent from 2017 levels
- Imports of Irish Whiskey reached $455 million in 2018, up 15 percent from 2017 levels
- Imports of “other whiskies” reached $14.5 million, up 45 percent from 2017 levels