THREE DAYS LEFT TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD – STOP THE TARIFFS!
As of this morning, there are over 17,500 comments posted to the #USTR-2019-0003-2518 open docket regarding the proposed tariffs, up to 100 percent, on European wines. The majority of what we see is mobilization from food and beverage industry professionals. THANK YOU, KEEP THE DISSENT ALIVE and PLEASE DO NOT STOP GETTING THE WORD OUT.
If you are just tuning in, the proposed tariffs are a retaliatory response to both France’s Digital Services Tax (docket #USTR-2019-0009-0038) and to the continued enforcement of the World Trade Organization rights involving infractions by civil aircraft companies (docket #USTR-2019-0003-2518). To put it succinctly, these tariffs threaten the jobs of thousands of Americans involved in the wine industry – from trucking, warehousing, office management, sales, and business ownership – at all levels from small business to large corporations. As well, these tariffs threaten the livelihood of our overseas business partners who are also small family run operations.
VOICE YOUR OPINION TO THE USTR!
Please join the voices of dissent against these disproportional and misdirected tariffs that will punish small businesses like ours and increase the prices of wines that you love due to disputes regarding unrelated, gigantic, aerospace and technology companies. You can still make a difference by posting a dissenting comment at https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=USTR-2019-0003-2518.
SIGN THE PETITIONS!
Concerned Members of the Food and Beverage Industry are circulating this Change.org petition to the United States Congress. It is trending at over 22,000 signatures but MORE IS BETTER. Please sign. http://chng.it/zG52c7BZmY
Industry colleague Gabriel Bisio created a Change.org petition to The Honorable Robert Lighthizer, US Trade Representative. Please read it and sign it. Here is the link: http://chng.it/LLc8pqqxwX
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES!
The National Association of Wine Retailers has a link that is quick and easy.
https://nawr.org/nowinetariffs/…
Here are some important points to consider:
– US Law requires that wine be sold according to a three-tier distribution system means that imported wines contribute to revenue at each tier of distribution. Imported wines provide jobs at every step of the supply chain.
– Wines imported by companies like Circo Vino cannot be produced in the United States as they are unique to their place of origin.
– United States’ jobs created by importers, distributors, retailers, and restaurants are as important as any other job in the U.S.
– There are countless small businesses, like ours, that rely on fine wine as the main or sole revenue generator.
– The proposed tariffs have nothing to do with the food, beverage, and hospitality industries that are affected. They are a retaliatory measure regarding disputes with multi-national aerospace and technology companies.