Wine has been frequently targeted in unrelated trade disputes, which often end in the imposition of punitive tariffs on wine products.
In January 2020, when wine was caught in the crossfire of the EU-US aircraft subsidies dispute, CEEV and the US Wine Institute, representing the EU and US wine companies, signed a landmark “EU-US wine sector statement of principle on trade”, aimed at underlining the importance of the transatlantic wine trade and calling on the EU and US governments to further open access to each other’s markets.
Through this joint statement, the EU and US wine sectors reaffirmed their support for free and fair trade and urged leaders in both markets to prioritize three principles that are essential to the whole wine value chain, from grape to glass including wineries, grape growers, importers, exporters, distributors, retailers and hospitality providers.
- Preservation of the EU-US Wine Partnership
The longstanding partnership between the EU and the US wine sectors is instrumental in boosting wine export growth and it should be preserved and supported, for mutual benefit.
- "Zero for zero" principle
For the sake of both EU and US wine exporters, all tariffs on wine should be eliminated on both sides (“zero for zero” principle) to guarantee a free, fair and open access to each other’s wine markets.
- "Wine for wine" principle
Wine should not be targeted with retaliatory tariffs as a way to negotiate trade outcomes in other areas, that are unrelated to wine (“wine for wine” principle). Retaliatory tariffs create economic uncertainty and bring about price increases that will affect American and EU consumers and companies alike.