Trump threatens 200% tariff on EU wines and spirits
The U.S. solidified its position as the second-largest export market for Portuguese wines in 2023, with exports growing by 2% to reach €102.1 million.
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would impose a 200% tariff on all wines, champagnes and alcoholic products” coming from the European Union, if the 27-member bloc doesn't scrap looming tariffs on whiskey.
The move could severely impact Portugal’s wine industry, which exported over €102.1 million worth of wine to the U.S. in 2024, making it the second-largest market for Portuguese wines after France.
Trump announced the potential tariffs on Thursday via his social media platform, Truth Social, targeting “all wines, champagnes, and alcoholic products” from the European Union (EU).
He framed the measure as a retaliatory response to the EU’s recent imposition of a 50% tariff on American whiskey, which he described as “hostile and abusive.”
He slammed the EU as "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."
"This will be great for the Wine and Champagne businesses in the US," he added.
The threat comes amid an ongoing trade war between the U.S. and the EU, which has seen both sides impose tariffs on key industries.
Earlier this week, the EU unveiled a €26 billion package of countermeasures targeting U.S. imports, including bourbon whiskey, motorcycles, and boats.
This was a direct response to the Trump administration’s 25% tariffs on European steel and aluminum, which are expected to impact €28 billion in trade.
Portugal’s wine industry
Portugal’s wine industry, which has been steadily growing its presence in the U.S. market, now faces significant uncertainty.
According to ViniPortugal, the U.S. solidified its position as the second-largest export market for Portuguese wines in 2023, with exports growing by 2% to reach €102.1 million.
France remains the top destination for Portuguese wines.
Frederico Falcão, president of ViniPortugal, expressed deep concern over Trump’s threats, calling the potential tariffs “a disaster for Portuguese wines.”
He noted that the U.S. market had been a key focus for investment and growth, with exports to the U.S. even surpassing those to France at one point last year.
“Trump’s tariffs on European wine will affect Portugal significantly. It’s a very worrying scenario because it jeopardizes a market where we were investing heavily and achieving excellent results,” Falcão told Expresso.
The broader trade conflict has also drawn in other nations, including Canada, which has announced retaliatory tariffs of 25% on U.S. imports worth $20.1 billion, targeting steel, aluminum, and other goods such as computers, sports equipment, and cast iron products.
As tensions continue to rise, the global wine industry braces for potential disruptions. Portuguese winemakers, in particular, are left grappling with the prospect of losing access to a critical market, while the EU and U.S. remain locked in a high-stakes trade standoff.