IRISH whiskey companies are concerned that Trump’s new 200 per cent tariff threat could leave their multimillion euro relationship with the States on the rocks.
The trade war between the EU and the US has reached boiling point with the American President today warning that he will slap a 200 per cent tax on all European booze being imported to the States.
This comes just one day after the EU promised a €26billion tax attack on a range of American goods coming to Europe including bourbon, motorbikes and boats.
This EU tariff threat was a retaliation to Trump’s move to introduce a 25 per cent tax on all steel and aluminium as he tries to boost the American economy.
In a post on social media, President Trump claimed the EU is “one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the world.”
He fumed over Europe’s “nasty 50 per cent tariff on whisky” and threatened to ramp up the trade war if the EU doesn’t withdraw its tax threat.
He said: “If this tariff is not removed immediately, the US will shortly place a 200 per cent tariff on all WINES, CHAMPAGNES & ALCOHOL PRODUCTS COMING OUT OF FRANCE AND OTHER EU REPRESENTED COUNTRIES.”
The shot at EU booze companies immediately sparked fears among Irish whiskey companies who exported €1billion worth of products last year – with the US their biggest market.
A statement from the Irish Whiskey Association which represents 48 distilleries across the island warned that the threat could damage the industry.
They said: “There is no winner in a trade war. The imposition of tariffs will impact on our business and our consumers.
“Having our sector implicated in this dispute puts jobs, investments and businesses at risk and has the potential to be devastating for Irish whiskey.”
The bitter blow for the Irish whiskey industry comes just one day after President Trump told Taoiseach Micheal Martin that he did not want to do anything to hurt Ireland as they met in the White House.
The Taoiseach today met with Ireland’s new trade taskforce in Washington which was set up in recent weeks to advise the Government on President Trump’s trade policies.
The Fianna Fail leader will then meet with business leaders of American and Irish companies before attending the annual Ireland Funds gala.
Meanwhile, the local councillor whose message of appreciation to the Trump family was raised with the President in the White House this week has revealed how she missed the press conference on TV because she was working.
During the meeting at the Oval Office this week, Taoiseach Micheal Martin told President Trump that his local councillor Rita McInerney wants to thank him for his family’s support of the Doonbeg community through his golf resort and hotel.
Proving all politics is local, the Taoiseach said: “My local councillor Rita McInerney text me last week to say ‘Thank President Trump and his family for the way they’ve worked with the local community.”
Speaking to the Irish Sun, Cllr McInerney said: “I actually missed it. I was in the middle of catching up on some council work and my brother and father were watching it downstairs and they called up to me.
“I text the Taoiseach because I wanted to emphasise the importance of the American and Irish relationship in Doonbeg.
“We’ve worked with them well over the past ten years and it’s important for us to maintain that relationship.”
