Trump's proposed wine tariffs will hurt Americans, not the French

[laylalex 7,300]

Quote

Perhaps someone in the administration thought it would boost American equivalents. But if there's one thing I learned during nearly two decades of writing about wine, it's that American wine and European wine aren't interchangeable. Wine's provenance is often protected by law and by trade agreements; Chablis and Champagne, for example, have to come from those eponymous places. But it's not only trade law that dictates there's no equivalency; it's also personal taste. It's widely accepted in the industry that people don't easily switch between one type of wine and another, and experts predict consumers wouldn't even if the tariffs are imposed on French imports.

Moreover, the tariffs on wine, in particular, don't stand to target France effectively. While we are a significant market for the Europeans, we're not as big a deal as we think we are. Take the most relevant example: The French export wine market totaled 9.1 billion euros in 2017, according to the French customs service. The United States bought 1.6 billion euros, while other EU countries bought 3.75 billion euros, and China bought 758 million euros, an increase of nearly two-thirds in just four years.

...

A more likely explanation? These are easy political fodder, especially for President Trump's base. Wine has a third-rail quality when it comes to elitism -- stupid liberals, drinking their stupid chardonnay -- despite the fact that per capita consumption in the United States is nearly three gallons per year, or that wine has been growing as a percentage of our alcohol consumption for a quarter century.

 

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/12/opinions/trump-wine-tarrifs-bonne/index.html

 

Like other products, I try to buy American wherever I can. And there are certainly amazing American wines -- I mean, hi, I live in California, land of bottles of exquisite stuff. But sometimes you want a specific bottle and it happens to be French -- for me, Bordeaux in particular has no domestic analogue I enjoy as much. So much comes down to terroir, which can't be replicated in other places. Just a personal preference. 

 

Why are we doing this to ourselves when the French aren't really going to suffer from these tariffs?

Edited January 13, 2020 by laylalex

[Dashinka 24,800]

So a wine elitist is worried about paying more for French wine?  Is there a story there?

[laylalex 7,300]

It's America that's going to feel the bite more. That is the story. What is the point of shooting ourselves in the foot? Also, you don't have to be a wine snob to love French wine. That's a reductionist way of thinking about this. 

 

Also: 

The ongoing dispute, which could escalate imminently, currently threatens every level of America’s wine industry. Though it appears that European products are being targeted, it’s U.S. businesses, taxpaying employees, and even domestic wineries that find themselves in the crossfire. The effects of this trade war — one that has nothing to do with wine — are already being felt, and have the potential to negatively impact the future of America’s wine industry.

https://vinepair.com/articles/european-tariffs-affect-american-wine/

[90DayFinancier 910]

9 hours ago, laylalex said:

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/12/opinions/trump-wine-tarrifs-bonne/index.html

 

Like other products, I try to buy American wherever I can. And there are certainly amazing American wines -- I mean, hi, I live in California, land of bottles of exquisite stuff. But sometimes you want a specific bottle and it happens to be French -- for me, Bordeaux in particular has no domestic analogue I enjoy as much. So much comes down to terroir, which can't be replicated in other places. Just a personal preference. 

 

Why are we doing this to ourselves when the French aren't really going to suffer from these tariffs?

I love a variety of wines for a variety of circumstances. I have learned to enjoy the Willamette Pinot Noir  but understand it is not the same as French Burgundy, even with the same winemaker.

 

https://www.winemag.com/2018/11/07/oregons-french-winemakers/

 

Example: I have been drinking Antinori wines for years, and they have partnerships with Washington and Napa winemakers to make some great wines. But why should Americans be penalized because they want at $25 Villa Antinori from Tuscany over a $ 80 Col Solare from Washington? The Wine Industry in the US is not in need of protection.

 

But whether you are talking about a 15 Rioja or a competitive diabetes medicine, when did America become the bastion of anti-capitalist, anti-competitve, pro Tax thinking? 

 

A tariff is a TAX that is paid by (American) consumers, not a foreign winemaker, and not on a politician trying to look tough. 

 

The Republicans under Trump have swelling deficits and are promoting new taxes. The Republicans under Trump are becoming the party of "Tax and Spend" 

 

 

Edited January 13, 2020 by 90DayFinancier

[90DayFinancier 910]

4 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

So a wine elitist is worried about paying more for French wine?  Is there a story there?

People who pay $12 for a French Bordeaux are elitist? 

[Burnt Reynolds 5,058]

4 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

So a wine elitist is worried about paying more for French wine?  Is there a story there?

It's not a story, French wine is a differentiated product. American wine has differentiated products but more caters to low-cost segments, which is why when I lived in CA, in both the Bay Area and northern/central valley, I'd go into a liquor store and see garbage Gallo wine for 2 bucks a bottle, which I'd get for friends, or even my sister, for when the real booze was gone (at that point, when feeling drunk but not drunk enough and out of booze, anything tastes good). The real story is a way to use what they (CNN and co) consider "news" to concoct a story-within-a-story which is demonstrated with the last paragraph OP cited. They turn it into an orange man bad piece targeting the left's personal animus (TDS) toward Trump and call Trump's tariffs "political fodder" (which is actually an indictment against CNN for conjuring fodder). 😂 That Babylon Bee article, even more hilariously, looks more accurate than I thought:

 

10 hours ago, ALFKAD said:

Well, at least they won against babylonbee...

 

https://babylonbee.com/news/cnn-attacks-babylon-bee-the-internet-is-only-big-enough-for-one-fake-news-site

 

 

When I read pieces from the news I always consider management strategy, I really don't see what the long term outlook for CNN is. This all looks momentary, vindictive, etc., which is likely why they've operationally budgeted for these losses in viewership. 

Edited January 13, 2020 by Burnt Reynolds

[laylalex 7,300]

Please read the article I posted from Vinepair, which is a well-respected source on wine/spirits/beer. It's not a political outlet. This story isn't about CNN. It's about how these tariffs affect America and American business. 

[Nature Boy 2.0 8,382]

Trump will crash economy if elected

Economists: A Trump win would tank the markets

https://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/donald-trump-wall-street-effect-markets-230164

[Dashinka 24,800]

1 hour ago, 90DayFinancier said:

People who pay $12 for a French Bordeaux are elitist? 

If they are worried about the price, why buy it.  Personally, Aussie and Kiwi wines are the best, French wine is like vinegar.

[Dashinka 24,800]

18 minutes ago, laylalex said:

Please read the article I posted from Vinepair, which is a well-respected source on wine/spirits/beer. It's not a political outlet. This story isn't about CNN. It's about how these tariffs affect America and American business. 

I see someone complaining about the cost of a luxury item (by luxury I mean unnecessary), and of course blaming it on Trump.  If I listen to the idiots running for the Democrat nomination (I heard the field just got a little less diverse), they want to increase the cost of necessary items such as oil, CH4, etc.  Now that is something I do care about.

[Burnt Reynolds 5,058]

23 minutes ago, Nature Boy 2.0 said:

Trump will crash economy if elected

Economists: A Trump win would tank the markets

https://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/donald-trump-wall-street-effect-markets-230164

Bingo.

 

From the most simplistic angle, because nuance means people don't read.. 

 

- Trump aggressive America First trade policy: success

- People incessantly predicting Trump's policies failing: wrong

 

32 minutes ago, laylalex said:

Please read the article I posted from Vinepair, which is a well-respected source on wine/spirits/beer. It's not a political outlet. This story isn't about CNN. It's about how these tariffs affect America and American business. 

Uh huh..

 

 

 

 

https://vinepair.com/booze-news/stone-brewing-goes-after-trump-with-im-peach-beer/

Quote

 

A few months ago BrewDog sent a case of Make Earth Great Again beer to the White House to object to President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord and now it seems they’re not the only ones making protest beers. This month Stone Brewing Co. has announced they’ll soon be releasing I’m Peach Double IPA in resistance to Trump, according to Beer Street Journal.

The beer’s play on words is a pretty clear reference to a resistance movement that aims to have Trump impeached in 2018. While politically unfeasible at the moment, if the Democrats take back the House of Representatives next year and the Mueller probe finds evidence Trump committed a crime, impeachment may become a realistic option.

 

 

 

https://vinepair.com/articles/yuengling-lager-independent/

Quote

12 Things You Should Know About Yuengling

 

 

"Yikes" indeed. They clearly do have a very prominent political slant. A simple search of Trump and that site levies similar barrage of anti-Trump press and op-ed musings that easily debunk this theory of it being apolitical. I'll just reiterate what was cited in the OP from CNN, which mirrors this other source's slant:

 

"A more likely explanation? These are easy political fodder, especially for President Trump's base. Wine has a third-rail quality when it comes to elitism -- stupid liberals, drinking their stupid chardonnay -- despite the fact that per capita consumption in the United States is nearly three gallons per year, or that wine has been growing as a percentage of our alcohol consumption for a quarter century."

 

🤔

Edited January 13, 2020 by Burnt Reynolds

[90DayFinancier 910]

20 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

If they are worried about the price, why buy it.  Personally, Aussie and Kiwi wines are the best, French wine is like vinegar.

So you are ok with levying taxes on modest income families who want to enjoy a French wine, they really should , in your mind,bbe drinking a shopisticated Penfolds wine because you know what tastes better.

 

Sounds elitist to me. 

[TBoneTX 46,126]

Solve the problem by imbibing, in preferential order:

 1.  Ripple

 2.  Wild Irish Rose

 3.  Gallo

 4.  Anything with a screwcap

[90DayFinancier 910]

1 hour ago, Burnt Reynolds said:

It's not a story, French wine is a differentiated product. American wine has differentiated products but more caters to low-cost segments, which is why when I lived in CA, in both the Bay Area and northern/central valley, I'd go into a liquor store and see garbage Gallo wine for 2 bucks a bottle, which I'd get for friends, or even my sister, for when the real booze was gone (at that point, when feeling drunk but not drunk enough and out of booze, anything tastes good). The real story is a way to use what they (CNN and co) consider "news" to concoct a story-within-a-story which is demonstrated with the last paragraph OP cited. They turn it into an orange man bad piece targeting the left's personal animus (TDS) toward Trump and call Trump's tariffs "political fodder" (which is actually an indictment against CNN for conjuring fodder). 😂 That Babylon Bee article, even more hilariously, looks more accurate than I thought:

 

 

When I read pieces from the news I always consider management strategy, I really don't see what the long term outlook for CNN is. This all looks momentary, vindictive, etc., which is likely why they've operationally budgeted for these losses in viewership. 

CNN is not part of this story, but go ahead and pull the narrative off the fact that Trump loves to tax consumers with Tariffs. He even said he would pay for his wall with Mexico tariffs.

[yuna628 9,717]

39 minutes ago, 90DayFinancier said:

So you are ok with levying taxes on modest income families who want to enjoy a French wine, they really should , in your mind,bbe drinking a shopisticated Penfolds wine because you know what tastes better.

 

Sounds elitist to me. 

What alcohol is enjoyable to some is not enjoyable to another. Why I thought America was all about freedom and there used to be a time when people were like ''booo taxes iz r evilz". Tariffs are taxes of course, but you know that.

 

Marylanders are the ultimate wine snobs though with all of our strange import law nonsense. I can't say I've tasted a French wine yet, but there are so many fine in-state wines we are spoiled for choice. Alas I'm being told I need to give the ol' liver a rest for a while, but I will longingly dream while you guys argue over which wine is elitist.