spiritsNEWSLETTER November 2020

A memorable election; and a rebuilding and restoring of EU-US relations?

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

The eyes of the world were on the US, as the many millions of votes cast in the Presidential election were counted.

In the end, former Vice-President Joe Biden emerged victorious, while former President Trump also increased his support. The USA is set to remain a deeply divided country – and this division is likely to continue to impact on sectors such as ours in the months ahead.

In Brussels, November also saw the announcement of further tariffs on US products entering the EU as part of the Airbus-Boeing dispute. We are extremely disappointed to see a number of spirits among the products impacted – including vodka and rum.

It is all the more devastating that our sector is being affected when we are completely unrelated to the original Boeing-Airbus dispute. The use of our sector as pawns in this dispute must end - before businesses and communities on both sides of the Atlantic pay too high a price.

spiritsEUROPE has been steadfast in its opposition to such measures – the spirits sector thrived under zero-for-zero transatlantic tariffs, and this growth was seen on either side of the Atlantic. Tariffs are never the answer – dramatic reductions in EU exports bear testament to this fact. We will continue to advocate for a return to free trade, needed now more than ever - particularly in light of the unique challenges we currently face with the COVID-19 pandemic.

With every new Presidency, however, comes new hope. We are confident that the European Commission and the new US Administration will enter into productive and rewarding negotiation talks, with renewed determination to find a common resolution.

Early reports on the Biden Presidency indicate a desire to rebuild and restore relationships with international allies and global trading partners.  Our hope remains that the Airbus-Boeing dispute is among the first to be resolved.

Our sector has weathered many storms this year – the world has been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic, we have seen the closure of the hospitality and tourism sectors due to recurring lockdowns, consumer confidence and purchase power has been lost, and our normal avenues to trade have been hampered due to trade disputes.

Nevertheless, our sector has overcome these challenges to emerge on the other side – shaken, stirred, but strong. This spirit of determination will be needed in the coming weeks. 

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