By Kerry Picket (The Washington Times)
After winning tariff relief for Scotch and Irish whiskey, the U.S. spirits industry’s top trade group now wants President Trump to finish the job and drop the remaining 10% levy on European cognac and liqueurs.
The U.S. Distilled Spirits Council said the administration’s trade deficit logic does not fit products that can only be made in one place.
To put it simply: Americans may drink far more cognac than France drinks bourbon, but that is no reason to tax the brandy.
The Council said it has taken that message to the White House, the Commerce Department and the U.S. Trade Representative to steer the administration away from tariffs that it says turned the industry into “a leverage point” in trade disputes.
“We’ve tried to help educate the administration who is zoned in on trade deficits, that trade deficits shouldn’t really apply for our industry,” Chris Swonger, president and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council, told The Advocates. “We’re not widgets. We’re distinctive products. You can only make American whiskey in the United States.”
Within the last year, Mr. Trump removed a 10% tariff on Scotch whisky, and Mr. Swonger said this happened after King Charles “came in and talked to him about it.”
Mr. Swonger noted that about two weeks ago, when Mr. Trump was in Ireland, he removed the 10% tariff off Irish whiskey coming in, but there still is more work that needs to be done.
“That is awesome. And we applaud that. … We’re still imposing a 10% tariff on European spirits products like cognac and liqueurs. And we hope the administration will consider removing that 10% tariff.”
This article was made available to WMAL via The Washington Times.
