Marzia Varvaglione (CEEV), warns of 'serious disruption' to European wine industry

On Wednesday, April 2, President Donald Trump announced from Washington the implementation of a reciprocal tariff plan targeting a range of European products, including wine. The new measure imposes a 20% tariff on wine imports from the European Union, escalating trade tensions between the two sides after several months of strained negotiations. The decision has triggered strong reactions from European wine producers, who warn of serious consequences for the sector.

In 2024, the European Union exported €4.88 billion worth of wine to the United States, accounting for 28% of its total wine exports. The U.S. continues to be the EU's largest market outside Europe, and the wine sector now faces uncertainty over how the new tariff will affect consumer demand. The expected price increase could result in a sharp drop in sales, with companies fearing a loss of competitiveness in a market that has played a central role in their growth strategies.

Speaking from Brussels, Marzia Varvaglione, president of the European Committee of Wine Companies (CEEV), warned that the tariff will seriously disrupt the European wine industry. She highlighted the potential for job losses, economic instability in wine-producing regions, delays in investment plans, and higher prices for consumers. Varvaglione emphasized that the U.S. market cannot be easily replaced and that the sudden increase in costs jeopardizes the sustainability of many producers across the continent.

The move comes despite the Declaration of Principles on Trade in Wine, signed by the EU and the United States in 2020. That agreement aimed to strengthen cooperation and ensure the free flow of wine trade between the two economic blocs. Since then, transatlantic wine exchanges have been steady and mutually beneficial, with the sector serving as one of the most dynamic components of agricultural trade.

Ignacio Sánchez Recarte, secretary general of the CEEV, recalled that until now, tariffs on wine between the EU and the U.S. had been largely balanced and posed little disruption to trade. He criticized the new measure, saying it lacks technical justification and undermines efforts to keep wine trade free from protectionist actions. Sánchez Recarte urged both sides to return to negotiations, proposing a Fair and Reciprocal Trade Agreement for Wine as a framework to resolve the issue and prevent further escalation.