Yarmuth Statement on USTR Announcement of Temporary EU Bourbon Tariff Freeze

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-3) released the statement below regarding the United States Trade Representative's announcement of a temporary halt on additional retaliatory tariffs the European Union planned to place on Bourbon as part of the ongoing steel-aluminum dispute between the two governments. The existing 25% tariff was set to double on June 1, but that increase will now be withdrawn as negotiations continue.

'As Louisville's Congressman and the Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Bourbon Caucus, I'm pleased to see the agreement announced today to suspend this looming increase on EU tariffs that would have been disastrous for our Bourbon industry in Kentucky. Distilled spirits have been unfairly singled out by the EU and UK as part of an ongoing and unrelated trade war that began under President Trump. I am encouraged by the progress the Biden administration has made so far and urge them to continue working with both the EU and UK to fully and permanently remove all tariffs unfairly applied to America's only native spirit. There are tens of thousands of good Kentucky jobs depending on it.'

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