I wanted to personally write this week about the impending tariffs on alcohol imported from the EU, which have far-reaching implications for all of our businesses.
In the past few days, I have held a number of discussions with industry leaders, lobbyists, and people with direct knowledge of negotiations and gleaned that the likelihood of a significant tariff is very real. While we understood that more information would come ahead of, or by April 2, 2025, the compounding effects of strikes in France, in particular, have restricted our ability to “act fast” once any information is circulated.
You may also know that the US Wine Trade Alliance has urged all customers to halt all shipments of wine, spirits, and beer from the EU, stating the current tariff risk is too high. This morning, 20 March, news outlets reported that the European Union’s Trade Commissioner delayed any reciprocal tariffs to mid-April, and while this provides a glimmer of hope that tariff negotiations are moving toward resolutions, it does not substantively change the tariff decisions ultimately set by President Trump.
I want to honor our customers’ decisions to hold, cancel, and/ or proceed with their orders in light of all the information they have gathered. My team has been working tirelessly this week and over the past 24 hours to mitigate the risk of post-April 2 tariff arrivals to our customers who have orders on the water & in the pipeline.
While I am hopeful that if and when the current administration announces any tariffs, they seriously consider offering enough notice for our customers to make informed decisions. As well, I hope they carve out protections for goods on the water; this is also currently being lobbied. However, none of these “hopes” can be confirmed at this point.
I am emboldened by our industry at this critical point, the conversations, and the strength of connections across our community.
