Italian wine and spirits exports to the United States are facing significant delays, as fears of impending tariffs loom, trade group Federvini reported on Wednesday. The uncertainty stems from President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 200% tariff on European wine and alcohol imports, part of a broader trade dispute that also involves steel and aluminum products. A major tariff decision is expected from the White House on April 2.
Micaela Pallini, president of Federvini, stated that many of its members have received requests from U.S. importers to suspend shipments due to concerns over tariffs. “After an initial front-loading phase, where companies rushed to send shipments early, the market has now come to a standstill,” Pallini told Reuters. “Importers are worried they’ll be left with unsellable stock at uncompetitive prices.”
Pallini also highlighted that some U.S. restaurants are beginning to run low on certain wine bottles, while prices for remaining stock are rising as a result.
Earlier this week, Italian prosecco producers confirmed that their shipments to the U.S. had been halted due to tariff fears. Additionally, the business paper Il Sole 24 Ore reported that Tuscan wine producer Ruffino had 1 million bottles blocked at the port of Livorno, as all U.S. orders for March were cancelled.
The slowdown follows a surge in Italian sparkling wine exports to the U.S. in the latter half of 2024, as producers rushed to prepare for potential new tariffs.
Three heads of prosecco trade groups sent a letter to Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, warning of tariff hikes as high as 200% and urging both national and European action.
While Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is one of the few European leaders with a friendly relationship with Trump, it remains unclear how much this diplomatic rapport will benefit Italy, given its broader ties within the European Union.
