I take this one to heart.

As a personal call to combat political uncertainty and ennui, to engage positively in the democratic process by making myself heard, and to just do something purposeful that could impact a community I truly love being part of.

It is important to do things that matter regardless of the odds of reversing the tide. To me this is most unequivocally one of those times.

Over the last ten years, I’ve shared my friendships and admiration for artisanal producers, importers, distributors, wine shops, wine bars, restaurants and the scores of passionate and iconoclastic people that do the work to get wine to us.

These are the people that will be hurt dramatically by these tariffs, rearranging their lives and livelihoods, either by intent or as collateral damage.

It was clear sitting at a wine bar recently that few knew of this, fewer understand its severity, and almost none what they could do to help. This post is meant to remedy the lack of awareness and provide some action links to my readers.

Here are the details (thanks to Christy Frank):

The Digital Services Tax

  • Originates around tax disputes concerning the major tech platforms, subjecting a 100% tariff on sparkling wine and food products from France.
  • Hearing on Jan 7th in front of International Trade Commission with rebuttal comments by the 14th, then most likely the tariff starts immediately.

The Civil Aircraft Dispute

  • Airbus and Boeing in dispute about government subsidies to Airbus impacting the free market competition with the US Tariffs ostensibly a leveling impact.
  • Round 1 in effect now, with 25% tariff on some wines and food stuffs from the EU.
  • Round  2 is proposed with 100% tariffs on wine (other food stuffs as well) from all EU countries. Comments are in process now till Jan 13th.

If Round 2 goes forward, this will reconfigure the very community we collectively have built almost immediately.

Small wine businesses up and down the supply chain will most certainly close, people will lose jobs, our community will be decimated and reshaped into something very different. Whether the tariffs last a month or six, jobs will be lost and markets will never be the same.

Today the majority of wines in our retail outlets are from the EU, and not something that can be immediately substituted, nor something the market will accept.

Do note as well that these tariffs are levied egregiously on the US importer alone so when wine lands, a 100% tariff is immediately levied on the importer not the producers in Europe. Hundreds of containers will simply be sent back, causing an ugly financial ripple on both sides. My guess is that these artisanal producers will simply go to Asia to find markets and never return.

The wine trade at large is testifying in DC this week as it is their livelihoods that is being threatened. Members of every shop and importer I know will be there.

What about the rest of us?

You can write and/or call your elected officials telling them how the upcoming tariffs will have a dramatic impact.

On us as consumers. On the fabric of our special community. On the hundreds of small businesses and the thousands of middle class workers and entrepreneurs.

If you are (as I am) upset with the administration using tariffs this way, vote in the next election and voice your opinion.

If you are (I most certainly am) upset at the immediacy and impact, you can write and call (see below). This is how Democracy works so make your voice heard.

I did.

Actions you can take:

  • Click here to email Your Congress Member.
  • Click here to leave a Comment on the USTR Docket.
  • Learn how to engage your congressional representative and help push for a congressional hearing. Click here.
  • Click here for sample letters.

Other helpful links:

  • Christy Franks great post on all the details, with links.
  • Save American Wine Jobs action items excerpted above.
  • Jenny & Francois passionate post on the reality for their company and the wine community.
  • David Lillie newsletter on the tariffs from Chambers Street Wines.

Please do give this some thought and note the timeliness of this request. We need to act now and en mass to make a difference.

This is just the right thing to do.

As well, a responsibility as members of the community to lend a voice and take action for things we care about.

This is most certainly one that matters to all of us.

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See these new pieces in the New York Times.

Jenny Lefcourt’s op ed.

Eric Asimov The Pour.

And this one from  Forbes is a great resource of articles being published.