Bottles of Knob Creek bourbon whiskey on a conveyor belt in Clermont, Ky. (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg)
The European Union is delaying its proposed 50% tariff on American whiskey until mid-April, aligning them with broader countermeasures against U.S. steel and aluminum duties.
The shift in the timing of the levy, originally set to take effect April 1, allows for more talks with U.S. officials, a spokesperson for the European Commission said March 20.
American distillers have been rushing to prepare for the EU’s tariffs, including some companies ferrying as much product as possible to Europe, one of the industry’s biggest export markets.
In response, President Donald Trump has threatened a 200% tariff on all alcoholic products imported from the EU.
“The EU continues to be ready to engage in constructive dialogue with the U.S., in order to seek a solution that avoids unnecessary harm to both economies,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
