WSTA welcomes joint statement on wine tariffs

15-Jan-2020 - United Kingdom

The wine and Spirit Trade Association has today welcomed the announcement published by two leading wine sector organisations in the European Union (EU) and United States (US), detailing the signing of a landmark statement of principle on trade and tariffs. Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins (CEEV) and Wine Institute are the founding signatories of a new document which recognises the importance of the transatlantic wine trade and calls for the immediate elimination of all tariffs on wine.

As the UK begins to exit the EU and establish its own independent trade policy, the WSTA supports the principles of this statement and calls on the UK government to remove tariffs against wine imports and negotiate removal against exports at the earliest opportunity. Shortly, the UK will enter early stage negotiations with the Government’s top FTA targets, including the EU and US, as well as Australia and New Zealand. The EU/US statement calls on the governments of the EU and US to preserve and strengthen the EU-US wine partnership through the complete elimination of tariffs, and to refrain from targeting wine in unrelated trade disputes, or “wine for wine.” The WSTA echoes those calls to the UK Government and its target trade partners.

WSTA Chief Executive, Miles Beale, comments:

“The WSTA welcomes this statement from Comité Vins and the Wine Institute, setting out a joint vision for free transatlantic trade in wines. As large spirits exporters, the UK has long enjoyed the benefits of zero tariffs agreed between the US and EU in the mid-90s. Removal of tariffs, either at WTO level, or in the UK’s case through FTAs, would see a boost in trade which would benefit all in the sector.”

https://www.yumda.com/en/news/1164454/wsta-welcomes-joint-statement-on-wine-tariffs.html