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Tariffs on German wine: Mosel winemakers are fighting for their existence!
US punitive tariffs are placing a considerable burden on Mosel winemakers. Efforts are underway to negotiate with the EU to lift tariffs.
Tariffs on German wine: Mosel winemakers are fighting for their existence!
The worries and uncertainties of Mosel winegrowers are currently great. The threat of US punitive tariffs on German wine is particularly troubling for many of them. According to information from South German newspaper The tariff on imports from Germany could rise from the current 10% to up to 25%. This would be a real blow to the books for many winemakers.
Winemaker Florian Lauer reports that about 30% of his wines, around 30,000 bottles, are exported to the USA. If tariffs were increased, its margin would shrink to a minimum. The wines from the Moselle are particularly important: almost half of all German wines that come to the USA come from this region, which corresponds to around 6.3 million liters.
Planning security required
The uncertainties have been further exacerbated by US President Donald Trump's announcement that he will increase tariffs from August 1st. While the EU Commission continues to negotiate with the USA, it remains uncertain how the situation will develop. Johannes Selbach, an experienced winemaker from the Moselle region, emphasized that wine plays a central role in the negotiations.
The economic situation, which is also affecting other European countries such as France and Spain due to the tariffs, is particularly regrettable. Over the last two years, German winemakers have suffered revenue losses of around 14 million euros Rhine newspaper reported.
The situation on the American market
The USA is considered the most important market for Mosel winemakers, with German wine producers exporting around 133,000 hl of wine to the USA in 2024 for around 63 million euros. Despite strong competition from countries like Chile and New Zealand, which have lower tariffs, the American wine market remains strong DWM Current highlights.
The winemakers' boards and associations vehemently criticize the developments in the trade dispute and warn of serious income losses, layoffs and price increases that could also affect the US economy. Walter Clüsserath, President of the Mosel Winegrowers Association, is optimistic after talks have taken place to suspend punitive tariffs until 2026, which brings a certain level of planning security for winegrowers.
Despite this positive news, uncertainty remains a constant companion for winegrowers on the Moselle, and they hope that things will soon become clear so that they can pursue their craft without any worries.