Your Favorite Wine, Beer and Liquor from Europe Could Cost 200% More if Trump's New Tariff Becomes Reality

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty; Arnold Jerocki/Getty

Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty; Arnold Jerocki/Getty

With St. Patrick’s Day on the horizon, PresidentDonald Trumphas threatened a new tariff on European wine, beer, liquor and other alcoholic products that could make drinks triple in price.

“The European Union, one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the World, which was formed for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the United States, has just put a nasty 50% Tariff on Whisky,” he wrote.

“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 warned. “This will be great for the Wine and Champagne businesses in the U.S.”

While no Champagne is actually produced in the United States (to be officially named “Champagne,” the sparking wine has to be produced in the Champagne region of France), Trump’s planned retaliatory tariff could have huge financial consequences on consumers as well as manufacturers.

Whiskey fans would have to shell out three times as much for bottles of brands like Jameson and Tullamore Dew — which are produced in Ireland — while vodka lovers would have to save up for Polish vodkas like Belvedere.

As for wine production, U.S. producers simply don’t have the supply to meet the demand. The country is the world’slargest annual importer, at $4.9 billion, but only exports about $1 billion, ranking fifth in the world.

And many famous beers still produced in Europe, like Heineken from the Netherlands and Bitburger and Weihenstephaner from Germany, would also be subject to tariffs.

A worker turns bottles of Mumm champagne at the company’s headquarters in Reims, France.Fabrice Dimier/Bloomberg via Getty

Fabrice Dimier/Bloomberg via Getty

“We urge President Trump to secure a spirits agreement with the EU to get us back to zero-for-zero tariffs, which will create U.S. jobs and increase manufacturing and exports for the American hospitality sector,” said Chris Swonger, president and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council. “We want toasts not tariffs.”

A worker removes American whiskey products from shelves at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario on March4, 2025.Nick Lachance/Toronto Star via Getty

Nick Lachance/Toronto Star via Getty

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) said it planned to implement restrictions on U.S. alcohol sales “as part of Ontario’s response strategy to U.S. tariffs,” according toFortune.

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On Wednesday, Trump hit back withnew threats, promising an even more aggressive reaction to any new retaliations.

“Whatever they charge us with, we’re charging them,” he told reporters. “Nobody can complain about that.”

source: people.com