Following the publication by the European Commission of the list of US products subject to retaliatory tariffs as a result of the WTO decision on subsidies to Boeing aircraft, the European and US wine associations renew their appeal to the authorities of the EU and the US to reduce the escalation of the dispute and immediately suspend the additional tariffs imposed on EU wines from October 2019 while they work towards a solution. The EU list published yesterday does not include American wine.

"The glass is half empty," said Jean-Marie Barillère, president of CEEV. “While the EU fortunately decided to rid US wines of punitive tariffs, EU wines have been affected by additional tariffs for months, causing irreparable damage to wine companies and the entire supply chain. . We continue our call on the EU and US authorities to preserve and strengthen the bilateral wine partnership by eliminating all retaliatory tariffs imposed on EU wines and refraining from targeting wine in unrelated trade disputes. "

Both the US and the EU are each other's largest export markets, with total trade reaching $ 5.36 (€ 4.53) billion in 2019, creating jobs and investment on both sides of the Atlantic.

“Wine is a truly unique agricultural product and for many years we have strongly urged all governments to refrain from targeting wine in disputes involving other sectors. We recognize the important step taken here towards this goal and urge both governments to support the strength of the transatlantic wine trade by adhering to the 'wine for wine' principle, "said Bobby Koch, President and CEO of the Wine Institute.

• The Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins (ceev.eu) was founded in 1960 and represents wine companies in the European Union in industry and commerce (still wines, flavored wines, sparkling wines, liqueur wines and other products of the vine). It brings together 23 national organizations from 12 EU Member States, plus Switzerland and Ukraine, as well as a consortium of 4 leading European wine companies. The companies represented by the CEEV, mainly small and medium-sized companies, produce and market most of the quality European wines, with and without geographical indication, and represent more than 90% of European wine exports.

• Wine Institute is the leading organization representing California wineries in the United States and around the world. With more than 1,000 wineries and affiliated business members, Wine Institutes initiates and advocates for public policies that improve the ability to produce and export wine responsibly. California is the fourth largest wine-producing region in the world, producing more than 80 percent of total US wine production and 95 percent of US wine exports.