WASHINGTON – European and American members of the Wine Origins Alliance (WOA) recently sent letters to their respective governments calling for them to avoid imposing tariffs on wine as part of broader trade negotiations in light of recent developments. The members, representing 28 wine regions across eight U.S. states and five EU member states, called for the United States and European Union to find pathways to work together to reduce or eliminate wine tariffs, rather than raise them.
Now in its 20th year, the Wine Origins Alliance is a unified force in the global wine industry dedicated to eliminating barriers to trade in wine, including tariffs and the lack of effective protection for wine region place names. Together, WOA members represent nearly 100,000 wineries and grape growers that have generated more than one million jobs and more than $8 billion in global wine exports. WOA membership encompasses 34 organizations from nine countries, spanning Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania; its newest member, Ribera del Duero, Spain, was welcomed to the Alliance last month.
“While our members are competitors on the global market, we all agree that our regions are best served by free and fair competition,” the regions wrote. “Unfortunately, in this uncertain period for international trade, threats of tariffs and the imposition of tariffs are leading to uncertainty and great concern for our members.”
The letters went on to explain that “Tariffs on wine do not just hurt producers and consumers, but other businesses connected to the wine industry such as distributors, retailers and restaurants. They also have the potential to lead to a tit-for-tat escalation, harming producers around the world as more tariffs are imposed as retaliation in the future.”
The regions added that “Wine promotes peace and prosperity given its historical role in bringing nations together in commemorative moments of international understanding. It should bring us together, not divide us.”
These letters build on conversations held by WOA members last month in Geneva, Switzerland, during meetings with officials at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to discuss issues related to wine place name protection, market access and barriers to trade. WOA members have also previously championed the passage of bipartisan congressional resolutions in the United States (H. Res. 766 and S. Res. 649) that recognized the importance of American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), as well as secured observer status at the International Organization for Vine and Wine (OIV).
The letters to USTR and the EU Commissioner for Trade can be found at the preceding links. For more information about the Wine Origins Alliance, visit www.origins.wine or watch our “Location Matters” video here.