From the AP: Brewing trade conflicts with Canada and Mexico risk driving up the price of U.S. spirits in those markets. The biggest risk is in the European Union, where tariffs are set to resume April 1 at double the rate on American whiskey producers, who again find themselves ensnared in a trade dispute over steel and aluminum. The new tariff would undo the strong rebound in American whiskey sales in Europe since a 25% EU tariff was suspended a few years ago, the Distilled Spirits Council said.

“The reimposition of these tariffs at a 50% rate would gut this growth and do irreparable harm to distillers large and small,” Chris Swonger, the council’s CEO, said of the EU. “It would be a catastrophic blow that will force many distillers out of our largest export market.”