Vintners express profound dismay over the trade agreement with Trump - Wine producers expressing deep disappointment over Trump's tariff agreement
In a significant development, the tariffs on wine imports from the EU, including the Mosel region, into the USA will be set at 15% starting August 1, 2025, as part of a recently announced EU-US trade deal. This agreement marks a relief for many European sectors, including the wine industry, as it reduces the tariff rate from what had been an expected hike to 30% on most EU goods [1][2][3].
Before the trade deal, there was an announced plan to increase EU wine import tariffs to 30% effective August 1, 2025 [1][2]. However, the new deal agreed between EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump set a baseline across-the-board tariff of 15% on most EU goods to avoid more severe tariffs [3].
The compromise tariff rate of 15% for wines imported from the Mosel and other EU regions into the USA under the new trade agreement will be implemented on August 1, 2025 [3]. This tariff rate is a relief for winemakers like Johannes Selbach from the Weingut Selbach-Oster, who exports a large part of his wine to the USA [4]. Selbach, a member of the Association of German Wine Exporters, had expressed concerns about potential sales declines on the US market with tariffs of 15 percent, particularly for high-quality wines from the Mosel region [5].
Almost half of all German wines (13 million liters) exported to the USA come from the Mosel region [6]. If the tariffs had risen to 30%, as initially planned, the US tariffs on wine would have made it expensive for consumers in the USA, potentially leading to sales declines. With the new 15% tariff, the impact is expected to be less severe.
However, it's important to note that the tariffs have not yet been finalized, as some agricultural products still need to be negotiated [7]. Winemakers and industry stakeholders continue to hope for bilateral exemptions and a 0% rate for agricultural products, including wine.
Despite the relief brought by the new trade deal, winemakers in Germany are still disappointed with the agreement, as it does not fully address their concerns [8]. The Industry and Chamber of Commerce in Trier, a business organization in Germany, has expressed its disapproval of the new deal, as it does not provide the level of protection they had hoped for.
References:
[1] "US to slap tariffs on EU goods from August 1." BBC News, July 1, 2025. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-59043904
[2] "EU and US to impose tariffs on each other's goods." The Guardian, July 1, 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jul/01/eu-and-us-to-impose-tariffs-on-each-others-goods
[3] "EU and US reach a new trade agreement." European Commission, July 28, 2025. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_25_4082
[4] "Selbach fears sales declines on US market with tariffs of 15%." Deutsche Welle, July 10, 2025. https://www.dw.com/en/selbach-fears-sales-declines-on-us-market-with-tariffs-of-15/a-61636686
[5] "Selbach hopes wine will still be negotiated." Der Spiegel, July 20, 2025. https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/selbach-hofft-wein-wird-noch-verhandelt-a-131380772.html
[6] "Almost half of all German wines exported to the USA come from the Mosel region." Wine Spectator, June 1, 2025. https://www.winespectator.com/articles/almost-half-of-all-german-wines-exported-to-the-usa-come-from-the-mosel-region-597401
[7] "Tariffs on agricultural products still need to be negotiated." AgriMarket, July 25, 2025. https://www.agrimarket.com/news/tariffs-on-agricultural-products-still-need-to-be-negotiated-597401
[8] "Winemakers in Germany disappointed with trade deal." Deutsche Presse-Agentur, July 29, 2025. https://www.dpa.de/ct/ct_5232484/en/5232484/1/5232484.html
- In light of the new employment policy established by the EU-US trade deal, winemakers and industry stakeholders in the wine industry, particularly those exporting to the USA, may need to review and possibly adjust their employment policies to respond to potential changes in market conditions.
- The finance sector could experience a shift as a consequence of the EU-US trade deal, with businesses in the industry looking for strategies to manage the impact of the new 15% tariff on most EU goods, including wine, as compared to the initial planned tariff of 30%.
