LOUISVILLE, KY.—Retaliatory tariffs caused a sharp downturn in American whiskey exports in the last half of 2018 as distillers started feeling the pain from global trade disputes, an industry trade group said Tuesday. Exports to some key overseas markets gyrated wildly last year for producers of bourbon, Tennessee whiskey and rye whiskey. In the first half of 2018, American whiskey exports to the EU surged by 33 per cent, it said. “That suggests that the tariffs are starting to have a measurable impact on American whiskey exports,” LoCascio said. The council reported another year of record spirits sales and volumes in the U.S., resulting in continued market share growth.

Source: thestar February 12, 2019 18:00 UTC