In the continuation of the latest trade war news, POTUS Trump indicated a potential 200% tariff to be levied on alcoholic beverages originating from the EU, unless the European government agrees to remove the 50% tariff on US spirits. Even if you’re not a retailer, one may want to stock up, simply as a hedge against inflation and tariffs. Or just…because. The announcement was posted on social media, “If this Tariff is not removed immediately, the U.S. will shortly place a 200% Tariff on all WINES, CHAMPAGNES, & ALCOHOLIC PRODUCTS COMING OUT OF FRANCE AND OTHER E.U. REPRESENTED COUNTRIES,” Trump declared. “This will be great for the Wine and Champagne businesses in the U.S.”
As for the US wine market, technically it only produces sparkling wine — in most countries, only bottles from the Champagne region may be labelled as Champagne. But since the latest trend is changing the name of things like The Gulf of Mexico to The Gulf of America, we could just rename Champagne “Champain.” As far as Whiskey goes, it can be spelled either with or without the e — Whisky vs Whiskey. When it’s made in the United States, we spell Whiskey with an e. If the 200% tariff goes through, the one with the e will be the one to be.
Featured Photo Credit via Openverse “”Wine Glass” by Skitter Photo/ CC0 1.0“