Americans are rushing to stock up on European wine and cheese amid growing concerns that President Donald Trump will follow through on his plan to impose steep tariffs on European Union (EU) goods.
Trade data from November 2024 reveals a significant uptick in EU wine exports to the U.S., coinciding with Trump’s election victory. Compared to the same month in 2023, imports surged by 18% in volume and 19% in value—marking record highs for any November.
Italy, a leading EU wine exporter, experienced notable gains. Shipments of sparkling wine to the U.S. rose by 41%, while still wines increased by 17%. The Italian Wine Union (UIV) attributed these gains to preemptive purchasing as American consumers rushed to secure European wines ahead of potential tariff hikes.
“The good news is that the numbers confirm that Americans are not willing to give up our wines, especially sparkling ones,” said UIV president Lamberto Frescobaldi in a press release. However, he cautioned that the looming tariff threat remains a major concern, emphasizing that the U.S. accounts for 24% of Italy’s wine export market by value.
In France, cognac producers also stepped up their exports to the U.S. in December, ahead of Trump’s inauguration on January 20, as reported by Reuters.
The dairy sector experienced similar trends, with exports reaching new highs in November. Overall dairy shipments increased by 20% in volume and 26% in value, while cheese exports alone surged nearly 25%.
Alexander Anton, Secretary-General of the European Dairy Association (EDA), remarked that this spike in dairy exports was largely driven by experiences during Trump’s first administration, as European producers sought to mitigate the effects of possible tariffs on their goods.
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