Salinas Calls on Trump to Protect American Wineries, End Trade War with Canada
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) led her colleagues in sending a letter to President Donald J. Trump, urging him to protect America’s wine industry by refraining from implementing further tariffs on Canada and Mexico after the current 30-day pause expires. Canada is the largest foreign market for U.S. wine with over $1.1 billion in total annual retail sales.
“In the wake of your initial tariff announcement on February 1, 2025, Canadian leaders immediately announced a host of retaliatory actions that will be implemented in the event you move forward with your 25% blanket tariffs,” write the members. “These retaliatory actions led to wineries across the U.S. seeing orders cancelled and fearing they had lost access to a key market and significant source of income. Further, Canadian purchasers no longer know that they can rely on a stable trade relationship with the U.S., which will have lasting consequences, even if your blanket tariffs are not ultimately imposed.”
The members go on to highlight how a trade war would negatively impact the U.S. wine industry. With over 11,000 producers in all 50 states, including many in Oregon’s Sixth District, the wine industry supports approximately 1.85 million jobs and generates over $275 billion in economic activity every year. A trade war with Canada would be catastrophic for the industry and worsen inflation for consumers.
The members continue: “The harm a trade war could do the U.S. wine industry is a microcosm of the harm it could do to our entire economy. As such, we urge you to work with Canadian leaders to avoid implementation of blanket tariffs following the current pause.”
In addition to Rep. Salinas, the letter is co-signed by Reps. Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Tim Kennedy (NY-26), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Kim Schrier (WA-08), and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10).
Read the full letter below or click here.
February 18, 2025
The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States of America
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Trump,
As Members of Congress who represent wine producing regions across the U.S., we write to urge you to refrain from implementing tariffs on Mexico and Canada following the current 30-day pause. The Canadian market, in particular, is critical to the success of the U.S. wine industry. Canada is the largest foreign market for U.S. wine, with total retail sales over $1.1 billion annually.
In the wake of your initial tariff announcement on February 1, 2025, Canadian leaders immediately announced a host of retaliatory actions that will be implemented in the event you move forward with your 25% blanket tariffs. As an example, the Premier of Ontario ordered the Liquor Control Board of Ontario to remove American-made wine and other alcoholic beverages from shelves across the province. The Provinces of Manitoba and Nova Scotia took similar actions, causing a wave of chaos across America’s alcoholic beverage sector.
These retaliatory actions led to wineries across the U.S. seeing orders cancelled and fearing they had lost access to a key market and significant source of income. Further, Canadian purchasers no longer know that they can rely on a stable trade relationship with the U.S., which will have lasting consequences, even if your blanket tariffs are not ultimately imposed.
The U.S. wine industry touches every part of our nation, and a trade war resulting from your tariff plan will have far-reaching impacts. According to a report commissioned by WineAmerica, the National Association of American Wineries, there are almost 11,000 wine producers across the U.S., and wine is produced in all 50 states. The wine industry supports approximately 1.85 million jobs across the supply chain, totaling almost $100 billion in wages. It also provides a key source of governmental revenue, paying almost $23 billion in taxes across the local, state, and federal levels. In total, the wine industry impacts over $275 billion in economic activity in the U.S..
Unfortunately, current market conditions have already left the wine industry struggling. Overall wine sales were down by approximately 3% from 2023 to 2024. This reduction is due to multiple factors, including inflation. Consumers have tightened their budgets, in part, by eating out at restaurants less, which has led to decreased wine sales; consumers are also purchasing less wine than they did throughout the pandemic. These factors, in combination with rising production and supply chain costs, have left the wine industry in a precarious financial position. A trade war with Canada could lead to catastrophic results, not only because U.S. wine producers would lose access to their largest export market, but also because a trade war will likely increase inflationary pressures. Americans are already squeezed by inflation – further inflation will lead to more Americans only being able to afford the bare essentials.
Thank you for your consideration of our thoughts, Mr. President. We fully understand your goal to secure our borders and make our communities safer, and we would urge you to work with Congress to pass bipartisan border security measures. The harm a trade war could do the U.S. wine industry is a microcosm of the harm it could do to our entire economy. As such, we urge you to work with Canadian leaders to avoid implementation of blanket tariffs following the current pause.
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