Headline Roundup • July 30th, 2025
US-EU Trade Deal Could Put 15% Tariff on Liquors like Jameson, Hennessy
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The US and EU agreed to a trade deal earlier this week, sparking concerns from alcohol producers and consumers in the US, who could see a 15% tariff on all wine and spirits.
The Details: EU alcohol exports to the US reportedly totaled $10.5 billion in 2024. The trade deal is yet to be finalized and already includes some product exemptions, though none pertain to alcohol so far. Some in the alcohol industry have supported a zero-zero trade agreement for wine and spirits, such as the US Distilled Spirits Council trade association whose website says “Toasts Not Tariffs” on its homepage.
For Context: President Donald Trump announced Monday that the deal will impose a 15% tariff on the US for most European goods in exchange for the following from the EU: a $600 billion investment into the US economy, increased purchasing of US military equipment, and a $750 billion purchase of US energy.
How The Media Covered It: Reuters (Center bias) covered the news most optimistically, stating EU alcohol producers “could emerge among the few winners” of the trade deal. The outlet framed the article around the need for tariff relief in the alcohol industry and name-dropped largely European-made products with high US demand, such as Hennessy and Jameson. The Washington Examiner (Lean Right) highlighted tariff exemptions and ongoing negotiations. CNBC (Lean Left) framed its coverage around the uncertainty and anticipation of the finalized deal.
Written by the AllSides staff (of humans). Learn more. Support our mission. Suggest an improvement to this summary.
Featured Coverage of this Story
European wine and spirit producers are sounding the alarm on the newly announced trade framework between the United States and the European Commission.
President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the deal, which sets a baseline tariff of 15% on European exports to the United States.
The deal does include exemptions for some products, including airliners and their components and certain pharmaceuticals, but as of Tuesday, European alcohol exports, which accounted for more than $9 billion worth of trade last year, will still face the full 15% rate.
Trump and White...
European Union wine and spirits producers could emerge among the few winners of a EU-U.S. trade deal agreed at the weekend that some European officials consider unbalanced.
The high-level agreement, which imposes a 15% baseline duty for most EU goods entering the United States, is set to include tariff exemptions for some agricultural products, still to be hammered out.
Alcoholic beverages could be among those, according to trade and industry officials.
"We are optimistic that in the days ahead this positive meeting and agreement will lead to a return to...
Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty Images
European wine and spirit makers are viewing their exclusion from the newly-etched U.S.-EU trade deal with caution as industry bodies call for a sector specific carve-out.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Sunday that a framework deal imposing 15% tariffs on EU goods imported to the U.S. did not contain any decision regarding the wine and spirits industry, adding that an agreement for the sector would be examined in the coming weeks.
For wine and spirits, provenance is key, making it near impossible for many firms to move production. Meantime,...
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