Failing, Insolent European Union Proposes New Tariff On American Bourbon

PortlandPledgeHazers8 years ago

Even in our bustling society, modern Americans still have relatively simple vices. Two activities we so dearly enjoy are sipping on American whiskey and telling foreign nations to eat shit. Unfortunately, the latter pastime may be landing our nation’s bourbon distributors in hot water.

President Trump proposed a new trade tariff on imported steel from China and Germany, and the European Union did not take it lightly. Although none of these tariffs are set in stone, the EU recently pulled the most spineless move imaginable and thought up an import tariff of their very own. The EU decided the best revenge is to go right for the jugular and tax the living hell out imported bourbon from our heartland (mostly Kentucky). Essentially all of our bourbon is distilled in Kentucky, and locals are understandably less than pleased.

From FOX News:

The EU is eyeing a potential target to use in retaliation against President Trump’s proposed steel import tariff: the U.S. bourbon industry.

…

The U.S. bourbon industry was specifically called out, and for good reason: 20 percent of the United States’ $654 million spirit exports to the EU last year came from bourbon whiskey sales.

At the G20 summit Friday, Juncker added that he hoped the EU could avoid such retaliatory measures, but said “we are in an elevated battle mood.”

The bourbon industry is largely based in Kentucky, but WEKU reports that the pinch such taxes could bring would be felt much further. “Anything, not just trade, but anything that impacts Kentucky bourbon affects a lot of different spin-off industries,” says Kentucky Distillers’ Association president Eric Gregory.

While this tariff could have direct consequences on a major American industry, there certainly is a silver lining. By taxing our alcoholic exports, the EU is digging their own grave. All this tax does is limit our Eastern neighbors from enjoying the riches of our bourbon, which in turn means the U.S. will have an excess just for us. Sounds like an awfully good trade-off to me.

So to the EU, go ahead and tax us. I have no problem drinking my American whiskey inside an establishment built from American steel while you’re drinking fermented blackcurrant juice or some similar disgusting crap..

[via FOX News]

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