WSWA Responds to President’s Comments on Potential 200% Tariffs on French Wine and Champagne

Washington, D.C., JAN. 20, 2025 -Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) strongly opposes the use of punitive trade threats targeting imported wine and spirits, including recent comments suggesting a 200% tariff on French wine and Champagne tied to unrelated geopolitical negotiations.

According to WSWA's SipSource, the only trusted provider of accurate wine and spirits market insights based on aggregated distributor depletion data, end of year 2025 data, wine has now experienced 52 consecutive months of declining volume, with on-premise sales still down even though dining accounts for more than half of wine revenue. Champagne is one of the few bright spots, making up nearly 17% of sparkling wine revenue and showing growth. Any action that disrupts access to these products would have immediate and severe consequences for American distributors.

"Comments signaling the potential for extreme tariffs-especially when tied to non-trade issues-create uncertainty across the entire three-tier system," said WSWA President and CEO Francis Creighton. "Even the prospect of a 200% tax on imported goods sends shockwaves through supply chains, contracts and pricing decisions, and ultimately puts American jobs at risk."

The U.S. wine and spirits sector is still recovering from one of its most difficult periods in decades. Businesses across all three tiers (suppliers, wholesalers, and retailers) are not positioned to absorb sudden, massive cost increases without passing them on to consumers.

Geographically designated products such as Scotch or Champagne are single-origin and irreplaceable. Unlike manufactured goods, these products cannot be relocated or substituted with domestic production. As a result, tariffs function as a direct tax on American consumers, importers, distributors and hospitality businesses.

"When tariffs target wine, Champagne and spirits, the economic pain is felt first by American workers," Creighton added. "Higher prices mean fewer consumers dining out, fewer shifts for bartenders and servers, and less economic activity in local communities."

About Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America

WSWA is the national trade association representing the distribution tier of the wine and spirits industry, dedicated to advancing the interests and independence of distributors and brokers of wine and spirits. Founded in 1943, WSWA has more than 380 member companies in 50 states and the District of Columbia, and its members distribute more than 80 percent of all wine and spirits sold at wholesale in the United States.

To learn more, please visit www.wswa.org or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook or X.