Brussels, 23 March 2025
The European Federation of Origin Wines (EFOW), the Brussels-based organisation representing Geographical Indication (GI) wines, has taken part in the European Commission’s public consultation on the list of products that could be subject to retaliatory measures in response to US tariffs on steel and aluminium.
During this consultation, EFOW and European GI wine producers reiterated their call for the European Commission to ensure that wine remains excluded from the ongoing EU-US trade dispute.
The inclusion of US wines and bourbon in the EU’s list of targeted products would be a strategic mistake, and EFOW strongly opposes such a move. The United States is the largest export market for European wines, and wine – particularly GI wines – is a key driver of the EU’s agricultural economy. The wine sector plays a vital role in supporting rural communities, sustaining jobs, cultural heritage, and local economies across Europe.
Retaliatory tariffs on wine would be deeply damaging, exacerbating economic uncertainty, leading to significant job losses, and discouraging investment across the supply chain.
“Wine should not be used as a bargaining chip in disputes that have nothing to do with our sector,” says Riccardo Ricci Curbastro, President of EFOW. “We urge the European Commission to take the only responsible decision: to exclude wine and bourbon from the final list of products subject to retaliatory measures.”
EFOW remains fully committed to working with European institutions to defend the interests of GI wine producers and ensure the continued success of the European wine sector.