From Wine Spectator

“… the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative recommended that the administration impose a 100 percent tariff on French sparkling wines. The tariffs won’t be finalized until early next year, but will potentially target French cheese, handbags, china and enameled cookware as well.
In the escalating trade wars around the globe, wine is collateral damage. It’s getting hard to keep count of how many times wine has been an innocent target. French producers of sparkling wines thought they had dodged a bullet after the administration’s last round of tariffs. Back in October, the U.S. implemented 25 percent tariffs on all still wines from France, Spain, Germany and the U.K. that contain less than 14 percent alcohol, part of a clash with the European Union over subsidies to Airbus.”

This tariff would put people out of business, such as Frederick Corriher, a French wine importer and a friend of Knoxville wine shops and restaurants.

“It would cost the American companies $3 billion,” he said. “From the importers to the wholesaler, the wholesalers who sell to distributors, to the retailers and to the consumers.”

And he fears that such a tariff would put him out of business.

“I haven’t been sleeping well,” he said.

And he already adjusted to the 25 percent tariff from last fall.

“I chose to eat the tariff for a few months to see what happened before knee-jerk raising prices,” he said. He added that the tariff not only hurts his business, but limits the cultural exposure we receive in our country. But mostly it’s economic.

“Try charging $20 for a six pack of Bud and see how that works out,” he said. “It’s not sustainable, and it’s not sustainable for the industry.”

Another response has been that tariffs mean more American wine sold. Surely that will be the case. But those of you who know the difference between a green Heineken bottle and Bud longneck should get that it’s not about American wine sales. Those who know between a Duchesse De Bourgogne and Wicked Weed Oblivion definitely understand.

At its heart, this tariff (like many) targets another country, but hurts the consumer. And as this one goes, for French products, the damage extends to the network of people who help deliver those delicious French wines and goods to our favorite bottle shops.

If you believe this is bad, and if you’re a regular reader here you probably do, then you should speak up. Write your Congressional representative and let them know.