Aragonese wineries threatened by the 200% U.S. wine tariff

Wineries in Aragon are following with concern the possible imposition of a 200% tariff on European wine by the United States. This measure, announced by the US administration, could lead to a drastic drop in exports, seriously affecting the region’s winemaking companies.

Currently, the US is a key market for Aragonese wines, especially for appellations such as Cariñena, Somontano, and Campo de Borja, which have consolidated their presence in the country. In 2023, Aragon exported nearly €20 million worth of wine to the US, according to industry data. With the new tariffs, these figures could plummet, jeopardizing jobs and expansion plans.

The Food Industries Association of Aragon has urged the Spanish government and the European Union to take urgent measures to prevent the wine sector from being used as a bargaining chip in a trade dispute that has nothing to do with wine. “This decision removes us from the US market and jeopardizes years of work and the consolidation of our wines abroad,” said industry sources.

Meanwhile, some wineries are already considering market diversification to mitigate the impact. However, business leaders warn that replacing a market as important as the United States in the short term is not easy. “We can’t afford to lose this connection, which has taken us decades to build,” says the manager of a winery in the Somontano DO.

While negotiations between the EU and the US are pending , Aragonese wineries remain on tenterhooks, fearing that a dispute unrelated to their sector could jeopardize their economic stability and international reach.