After weeks of heated rhetoric—and even threats of extreme measures—Donald Trump has finally shown his hand: a 20% tariff will now be imposed on European wines exported to the USA. The industry deeply regrets this decision, which delivers a serious blow to Bourgogne wines in their leading export market. It will have a major impact on exporters, their partners, and also American consumers. 

Given that 200% tariffs had been loudly announced back on March 13, last night’s news of a 20% rate was met with dismay -but also a certain sense of relief, as the industry feels it has narrowly avoided the worst. While this new measure will affect exports -potentially costing Bourgogne wines up to 100 million euros -it will not bring trade to a sudden halt, as would have been the case with higher tariffs.