Irish Whiskey Association welcomes continued engagement on EU-US trade dispute

The Irish Whiskey Association (IWA) welcomes the continued engagement of the Irish Government and the European Commission in trade talks, and we urge them to persist in seeking a negotiated outcome. IWA has actively contributed to this process and will continue to do so.

Now is the time for engagement, not escalation. Tariffs imposed earlier this year of 10% have already caused real economic pain for Irish Whiskey producers, from stalled production and delayed investment and, in some cases, the closure of otherwise viable businesses.

An additional 30% tariff would greatly compound this damage.

The proposed 30% blanket tariff on EU goods announced by US President Donald Trump, due to come into effect from 1 August, would be devastating for the Irish Whiskey and wider drinks sector. This move would inflict unnecessary damage on a transatlantic trade relationship that has delivered huge economic value to both Ireland and the United States (US).

IWA is also disappointed to see spirits included in the EU retaliatory measures under discussion, as this, we believe, would unnecessarily escalate matters for this sensitive sector.

IWA is calling for:

• Both sides to continue negotiating to seek to remove all barriers to trade
• The European Commission to keep US Whiskey/bourbon and other drinks products off any retaliation list.
• The Irish Government to provide as much support as it can to the Irish Whiskey sector, which is particularly vulnerable right now. Reducing production costs and easing the path to market must be a priority to maintain competitiveness and viability of the sector. It is also essential to establish sustainable financing structures for early-stage businesses, in collaboration with Government and relevant agencies.

The Irish Whiskey sector has grown exponentially over the past two decades, bringing economic stability, jobs and revenue to communities on both sides of the Atlantic. In 2024, we sold more than 16 million cases of Irish Whiskey worldwide, and central to this is the US market. We have deep commercial and personal relationships in all 50 states.

This strong trade relationship has not happened by accident. It rests on:

• Irish Whiskey’s Geographical Indication (GI) status, designating every bottle of Irish Whiskey as a high-quality product of Ireland, protecting quality and origin.
• The dedication and innovation of our Irish Whiskey producers and distillers across the island of Ireland.
• And critically, the zero-for-zero tariff trading environment between the EU and US that has served the spirits industry well for nearly 30 years.

ENDS