Die USA verzichtet einstweilen auf eine weitere Anhebung der US-Zölle auf europäische Weine. Der Handelsbeauftragter der Vereinigten Staaten, Robert Lighthizer, verkündete weiterhin die  eingeführten 25 Prozent Zölle auf Weine aus Frankreich, Spanien und Deutschland zu erheben. Auf eine Anhebung der Zölle auf 100 Prozent wurde verzichtet.

In den USA üben die Wine and Spirits Wholesalers von America, Inc., die Branchenhandelsgruppe der amerikanischen Wein- und Spirituosengroßhändler, Druck auf die US-Regierung aus die Tarife zu reduzieren.

Ende August werden die USA erneut die Höhe der Zölle auf europäischen Wein prüfen. Im Frühjahr 2020 wird erwartet, dass die EU ihrerseits Zölle auf Rum, Vodka und Brandy aus den USA erhebt. Zudem werden im Frühjahr 2021 die Zölle auf amerikanischen Wiskey auf 50 Prozent festgesetzt.

Hintergrund ist ein seit 2014 dauernde Streit über Staatshilfen für Boeing und Airbus. Washington und Brüssel werfen sich gegenseitig illegale Subventionen vor.
 

Eine aktuelle Einschätzung der Situation durch die US-Agentur des DWI finden Sie hier:

 

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has announced the final iteration of the next round of carousel tariffs. As you will remember, this announcement is tied to the December proposal that said tariffs on wine could be increased to as much as 100%.

 

https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/enforcement/301Investigations/Notice_of_Modification_of_Section_301_Action_Enforcement_of_U.S._WTO_Rights_in_Large_Civil_Aircraft_Dispute.pdf

The good news, if you can call it that, is that tariffs on wine from current (or former) E.U. countries will remain the same for the next 180 days, at 25% for still wines under 14% alcohol from Germany, France, Spain, and the UK.

While we are happy that tariffs on wine were not increased further, it is our belief and that of the U.S. wine trade that any tariff regime is misguided and does not serve the economic interests of either country.

Furthermore, if this trade dispute between the U.S. and the E.U. involving Airbus subsidies is not resolved within six months, the U.S. can revisit and change the types of goods and tariff rates being assessed. Th capricious nature of this carousel system is meant to create uncertainty in the market landscape and force trade partners to the negotiating table.

As I’m sure you know, this uncertainty is almost as damaging as the tariffs themselves and is reflected in the import figures for German wine in November, December, and January. During this time, importers were weary of placing orders on wine if they weren’t sure what the tariff rate would be upon arrival at U.S. ports.

With this announcement and the uncertainty removed in the immediate term, a number of importers have said they have Purchase Orders ready to go to ensure wines arrive before the assessment of any new tariffs and that they have enough supply for the coming months. For German wines specifically, it’s critical that importers begin ordering wines now so that these wines can make it through the entire distribution channel in time for the Spring/Summer wine season, and we hope this is reflected in large orders being placed in the next week or two.

In any case, please find additional information around this announcement in this newsletter from Shanken News Daily and the Wine Spectator article:

https://rfbinder.app.box.com/s/qb17ugplspxz0bsx6jb8qwy73qgzy688

https://www.winespectator.com/articles/white-house-spares-european-wines-from-100-percent-tariffs-for-now?utm_campaign=TariffNews021520&utm_source=BreakingNews021420&utm_medium=email&utm_content=f5d711419650a22c5c3f7f31ec3222fb

As far as next steps go, there continues to be a concerted effort from the U.S. wine industry to prevent and remove these wine tariffs from many different companies and organizations. We will continue to provide you with updates as we have them, both as it relates to announcements around tariffs but also specifically how this is affecting German wine imports.