Brussels confirms that wine will have a 15% tariff on the US from Friday
For Rioja Alavesa, the United States is very important because it is the second market in volume and value, so Agriculture Counselor Amaia Barredo has called for "exhausting the diplomatic path and negotiation until the last minute" so that wine is an exception.
Rioja Alavesa vineyards.
The European Commission (EU) has today confirmed that wine and beverages will be among the products that will be subject to 15% tariffs on the United States from tomorrow.
"We do not expect drinking wine and beverages to be included as an exception in the first group to be announced tomorrow by theUS, so this sector, like all other economic sectors, will have a 15% tariff, "European Commission Trade Spokesman Olof Gill said at a press conference.
The spokesman has indicated that, for the time being, the Commission is continuing negotiations with the United States because 'the aim is to exempt these products '.' The Commission wants as many exemptions as possible to be obtained and implemented, including for traditional EU products such as wine and intoxicating drinks, 'he said.
Olof Gill, EBko Merkataritza bozeramailea
The Commission wants as many exceptions as possible to be achieved and implemented.
For Rioja Alavesa, the United States is key, being the second market in volume and the first in value.
That is why the Minister for Food, Rural Development, Agriculture and Fisheries ofthe Basque Government, Amaia Barredo, has called for 'the diplomatic route and negotiation to be exhausted until the last minute' so that wine can be the tariff exemption agreed between Brussels and Washington.
Barredo believes that the 15% tax would have a "negative impact" on both Basque wines and the rest of the EU. "It is worrying, and therefore, if this is done, the Basque Government will call back the sector (Rioja Alavesa wineries, Txakoli and Euskal Sagardoa) to analyse the situation and establish measures to mitigate its impact," added the counsellor.
In this regard, he has advocated the search for new markets "in the face of the constant desires of the United States."
EU PresidentUrsula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump concluded a political agreement in Scotland last Sunday in the face of Washington's threat to impose a 30% general tax on imports from the European Union.
The treaty isfully in favour of the United States, which imposes a single tariff of 15% on European products, as well as strategic purchases of gas, oil, nuclear power or artificial intelligence chips valued by the EU at $750 billion; investments in the US economy of $600 billion; and increased purchases of US military equipment.
Gill explained that the Commission and US negotiators "are still working to reach a joint declaration on the agreement between President von der Leyen and President Trump."
The spokesman has asked to wait until this Friday, for example, to find out how the agreement to impose a "zero tax" on a list of "strategic products" will come into effect.
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