US and Italian producers of wine and spirits join hands in effort to fend off trade war

(28 Jan 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rome, Italy – 28 January 2025
1. Wide of officials at Italian Federation of wine and spirits producers press conference
2. Screen of presentation at conference reading (English): “United in Spirits: Tariffs and the case of EU-US fair spirits trade”
3. Mid of journalists
4. Wide of conference
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Swonger, president and CEO of Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS):
“American consumers love Italian cordials and liqueurs and when the tariffs were imposed we saw a 40% decline in Italian cordial and liqueur exports to the United States. And in return, when the tariffs were first imposed by the EU on American whiskey, we ultimately saw a 20% decline. The distilled spirits industry is unique because we have distinctive products. You can only make American whiskey in the United States. You can only make cognac in the Carnac region of France.”
6. Mid of journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Micaela Pallini, president of Federvini:
“Now what’s the problem? The problem is that March 31 is the deadline for extending the suspension of this European Union tariff. So if an agreement is not found, if the European Commission does not decide to delay this in this one, let’s say within this deadline, the risk is that they will apply 50% , so it doubles the tariff that existed years ago, clearly causing very serious damage to the sector and also to European companies that have invested heavily in the United States by buying companies.”
8. Mid of officials during conference
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Swonger, president and CEO of Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS):
“(U.S.) President (Donald) Trump has been very public about his concerns about reducing the U.S. trade deficit with strategic important partners and the creation of more American manufacturing jobs. And as a result of that, there is an opportunity for the European Union to work in a transactional way on the issues that have ultimately impacted our industry in disputes that had no direct link to our industry.”
10. Mid of officials during conference
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Swonger, president and CEO of Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS):
“And we hope and we encourage our European trading partners to suspend and allow the Trump administration to get settled as it’s still confirming many of its Cabinet appointees and not allow that 50% tariff imposed on American whiskey because as a result to that, the threat, and the danger and the risk of that is many times governments respond like for like.”
12. People applauding
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Swonger, president and CEO of Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS):
“And this industry plays such an important role in the Italian economy, in the European economy, in the United States economy and we want consumers to enjoy these great products, enjoyed them responsibly and in moderation, of course. But the livelihoods of great Europeans and great American workers are at risk. And we’re working hard to spread the message to find common ground. Work closely with President Trump, and let’s get these big matters resolved before the harm can begin on both sides of the Atlantic.”
14. Wide of press conference and audience applauding
STORYLINE:
U.S. and Italian producers of wine and spirits are joining hands to try to fend off a trade war over alcoholic drinks, such as American whiskey and Italian liqueurs.

“The livelihoods of great Europeans and great American workers are at risk,” said Swonger,

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