The American customs duties on wine imports from Germany, France, Spain and Great Britain of 25 percent remain in place. They affect wines with an alcohol content of up to 14 percent. This was announced by the US Trade Representative (USTR). Champagne and Crémant as well as sparkling wines from other countries are exempt.
The tariffs have been in force since October 2019 and were introduced by the US government due to the fierce dispute with the EU over possible subsidies to the aircraft manufacturer Airbus.
In the first eight months since the introduction of the duty, exports of French wines to the USA have fallen by more than 35 percent, according to figures from the Fédération des Exportateurs de Vins & Spiritueux de France, the "Decanter" reports. This has hit Burgundy particularly hard, as the USA is the world's largest consumer state, Thiébault Huber, President of the Burgundy Wine Growers' Association, also complained.
(uka)