Interview with Ben Aneff, President of the U.S. Wine Trade Alliance

Archyde: Ben, thank you for joining us today. The threat of substantial tariffs on European wine is concerning for both importers and consumers. Can you shed some light on the potential impact?

Ben Aneff: Certainly. We’re deeply worried. The U.S. wine market relies heavily on European imports. A 200% tariff, even a significantly smaller one, could be devastating. We’re talking about potential closures and layoffs across the industry, especially for the roughly 4,000 small businesses that import and distribute the vast majority of these wines.

Archyde: That’s a significant number. Could you elaborate on how these tariffs would affect the average consumer?

Ben Aneff: The immediate impact would be higher prices. European wines, from affordable table wines to premium Champagnes, would become significantly more expensive.This could lead to consumers switching to domestic alternatives, which might not have the same range or quality, or simply drinking less wine overall.

Archyde: The situation sounds dire for the U.S.wine industry. What steps is the U.S. Wine Trade Alliance taking to address this threat of potential tariffs?

Ben Aneff: We are actively advocating against these potential tariffs. We are working with lawmakers, trade officials, and the European Union to impress upon them the negative consequences for all parties. We’re stressing the importance of free and fair trade, and the value of the European wine market to the American economy.

Archyde: Considering the complex relationship between the U.S.and the EU, what do you see as the most likely outcome regarding these tariffs?

Ben Aneff: That’s difficult to predict. geopolitical situations can change quickly. Though, we remain hopeful that cooler heads will prevail.While we understand and acknowledge that there were retaliatory tariffs being considered by the EU, we hope that a mutually-beneficial agreement can be reached to avoid these tariffs altogether.

Archyde: One final question; beyond the economic impact, what are the other potential lasting effects on the U.S. wine market?

Ben aneff: Beyond the obvious, a sustained period of tariffs could fundamentally reshape consumer preferences and damage decades of established trade. In a world that already heavily relies on imports, the wine market’s diversification is at stake. It’s an issue that warrants discussion: if tariffs continue, will consumers be willing to explore and adapt to new wine origins, or will their palates be irreversibly altered? We invite our readers to share their thoughts on the impact of these threats in the comments.

Archyde: Ben,thank you for your insights.