One Year In, Trump’s Tariffs Have Not Helped U.S. Wine Businesses

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by Eric Asimov

February 19, 2026

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One year after President Trump imposed tariffs on imported goods, U.S. wine businesses are facing significant challenges, with many reporting that the tariffs have not provided the expected benefits. The tariffs initially targeted European wines, which make up most of the imports to the U.S., and were set at 20% before being reduced to 15%. However, some countries have retaliated by rejecting American wines entirely. For instance, Scar of the Sea, a California producer, has seen its wines disappear from markets in Spain, Canada, and Sweden due to importer backlash. Similarly, Jamie Kutch of Kutch Wines lost 30% of his overseas sales after being priced out of international markets. The tariffs were part of Trump’s broader trade strategy aimed at supporting American products, but the results have been largely negative for the wine industry. U.S. wine producers are already grappling with a decline in consumption, health-related concerns about alcohol, climate change impacts on vineyards, and rising costs due to inflation. These challenges have led to business closures and unharvested grapes left to rot in vineyards. The tariffs have compounded these issues by creating confusion, uncertainty, and hostility toward American wines globally. The situation highlights the unintended consequences of protectionist trade policies. While Trump’s administration intended to boost domestic

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Originally published on NYT Homepage on 2/19/2026