Industry Groups Urge “Permanent Tariff-Free Trade”

The Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. (DISCUS) has submitted a report to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), imploring the government to return to “permanent tariff-free trade” amid a plunge in spirits exports. The report focuses on the major barriers wine and spirits companies face when exporting, including “retaliatory tariffs, discriminatory taxes, regulatory standards, and certification and labeling measures.”

“Through the second quarter of 2025, total U.S. spirits exports declined 9% compared to the second quarter of 2024,” said Robert Maron, DISCUS senior vice president for international trade policy and market access. “This downturn reflects the impact of retaliatory tariffs and other actions, rising trade tensions, and market access barriers in key markets.”

DISCUS’s concerns were echoed by the American Whiskey Association, which also submitted commentary to the USTR, seeking a return to tariff-free trade for spirits and the creation of a “a U.S.–Mexico–Canada Spirits Trade Committee” to maintain market access.

“Our continued growth depends on maintaining open, stable trade relationships with key partners like Canada and Mexico,” said Michael Bilello, president and CEO of the AWA. “The USMCA (North American free trade pact) remains a vital framework for American whiskey. It supports American jobs, provides U.S. producers and stakeholders with stability, and strengthens our ability to compete in global markets.”—Shane English

Tagged : American Whiskey Association, DISCUS, U.S. Trade Representative

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