Dear President Trump,
We are writing to urge your immediate leadership to protect the U.S. hospitality industry as we enter the critical holiday season.
If the 15% tariff on EU spirits and wines and the 10% tariff on UK spirits continues, the consequences will be severe. U.S. restaurants and bars, already battling rising costs and declining wine and spirits sales, will be hit with another blow that could trigger even more job losses, reduce consumer choice and stall economic activity across the country. American distillers and vintners will face prolonged uncertainty, with the looming threat of retaliatory tariffs that could force craft distilleries and wineries to close and devastate local economies.
We have seen the consequences before. When the EU imposed a 25% retaliatory tariff on American Whiskeys from 2018 to 2021, American Whiskey exports to the EU plunged by 20%. Since those tariffs were lifted, exports of American Whiskeys to the EU surged by 60%.
The hospitality industry, which includes restaurants, bars, retail stores, etc. is not just a sector. It's a cornerstone of American life. It employs millions of Americans, generates trillions in annual revenue, and helps communities connect. Spirits and wines are more than commodities; they are cultural ambassadors. They are unique products, often tied to specific geographical regions. Production of these products cannot simply be relocated to circumvent the tariffs.
A permanent return to fair and reciprocal trade between the U.S., EU and UK would be a clear win for the Administration and U.S. hospitality industry, and is essential for American workers, businesses and consumers. It would reinforce the Administration's commitment to fair and reciprocal trade and protect the U.S. wine and spirits sectors, which contribute over $476 billion in annual economic activity and support more than 3.5 million jobs.
With the holiday season approaching, a make-or-break period for these industries, we seek your urgent support to permanently secure the return to fair and reciprocal trade for U.S., EU and UK spirits and wines. Let's raise a toast to American prosperity, not tariffs that threaten it.
Respectfully,
[Name]
