tariffs Archives - WineAmerica The National Association of American Wineries Fri, 05 Aug 2022 22:59:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://wineamerica.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/cropped-Circular-New-Logo-1-1-32x32.jpg tariffs Archives - WineAmerica 32 32 Spring 2019: National Wine Policy Conference https://wineamerica.org/wineamerica-conferences/spring-2019-national-wine-policy-conference/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 19:30:19 +0000 http://wineamerica.org/?post_type=wine_am-event&p=11821

In mid-April, WineAmerica’s Board, winery members, and state and regional association leaders convened for our 2019 National Wine Policy Conference. The conference is an intensive three-day event featuring the WineAmerica Board meeting, federal affairs, and state-issues meetings, plus meetings with Congress members and their staff.

Day One

The first session of the Conference featured a WineAmerica Board Meeting. Most of the administrative work the Board does is accomplished at the Fall Meeting, leaving more time for policy discussions when we gather in DC. We began the morning with a deep dive into the issue of website access for those with vision impairments, which has caused legal issues for some wineries. A federal affairs update followed, highlighting the progress being made on the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act.

The WineAmerica staff also updated the attendees on the other issues of importance to the industry, chiefly TTB notice 176, and international trade issues, such as ratification of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, our work regarding Chinese tariffs, and the threat of retaliatory tariffs from Canada and the European Union.

Following lunch, the conference attendees met with leading Congressional staff on the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. That evening, WineAmerica Board convened for dinner at Charlie Palmer Steak, celebrated for their all-American wine list.

 

Day Two

The second day began with a state issues meeting led by the State and Regional Association Advisory Council (SRAAC). As is customary, each SRAAC member provided an update on their respective state or region. One of the hallmarks of the SRAAC is the sharing of information among peers. The group then heard from two guest speakers about membership retention and Board management. Attendees met with Congressional staff from their home states and districts that afternoon. The day culminated with the annual Wines of America reception on Capitol Hill, and the conference wrapped on Thursday with additional state delegation meetings.

We want to thank all who took the time and expense to attend the WineAmerica policy conference.  Having constituents meet with their Senators and Members of Congress, and their staff, in their place of work is the most powerful way to demonstrate that wine is a national treasure, and to reinforce the fact that WineAmerica is genuinely the National Association of American Wineries.

We look forward to seeing members at our Fall Retreat in the Fabulous Finger Lakes region!

 
]]> Congress Moves to Protect U.S. Wines from Canadian Tariffs https://wineamerica.org/international-trade/congress-moves-to-protect-u-s-wines-from-canadian-tariffs/ Tue, 19 May 2015 17:41:30 +0000 http://wineamerica.org/?p=10137 Read more]]> May 19th, 2015

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, has introduced bipartisan legislation to repeal Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for certain cuts of meat to avoid retaliatory tariffs on a variety of U.S. exports to Canada and Mexico. The bill, H.R. 2393, would repeal the country of origin labeling requirements for beef, chicken, and pork. The bipartisan legislation currently has 60 original co-sponsors.

The full House Agriculture Committee will be holding a hearing on H.R. 2393 tomorrow, and a markup is expected to follow. Currently there are no amendments proposed, but that could change in the committee markup. Once reported from committee the bill will head to the House floor, which could happen as soon as early June.

This morning WineAmerica attended a press conference at the Capitol for H.R. 2393.  The press conference was held by the two lead sponsors of the COOL repeal legislation, Chairman Conaway (R-TX) and Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA). They were joined by members of both parties  who expressed their support of the legislation.  Industry representatives spoke in support of the legislation and praised Conaway’s and Costa’s efforts.  Bobby Koch, President of the Wine institute was in attendance, saying that the market for American wine had increased 78 percent into Canada over the last five years,  where total wine sales had increased only 16 percent.  He stressed that all of this is in jeopardy of being lost if the retaliatory tariffs on wine are implemented.  Congressman Costa also stated the importance of wine, stressing that California alone would face a $1 billion retaliation hit this fall if the existing COOL rules are not repealed.

Read More: U.S. Wine Industry Facing Steep Tariffs from Canada

The Senate Agriculture Committee will also be working on a solution to the WTO ruling. Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) has stated he is open to any solution, including repeal for meat, to prevent retaliatory tariffs. Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) has come out against repeal. It is unclear when the Senate might take action.

Canada and Mexico have been clear that nothing short of a full repeal of the COOL rules will satisfy their respective governments. Without a full repeal, the World Trade Organization has authorized Canada and Mexico to take punitive action against the United States in the form of retaliatory tariffs.

WineAmerica supports efforts by Congress to address the COOL regulations, including the repeal legislation introduced Representatives Conaway and Costa. WineAmerica’s government affairs team will be advocating for quick action on H.R. 2393. Retaliatory tariffs could be implemented as soon as August, Congress must work quickly to address the issue.

Questions and inquires should be directed to Michael Kaiser, Director of Public Affairs at mkaiser@nullwineameria.org.

Read more about WineAmerica’s policy issues.

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