Trade body SpiritsEurope has released a roadmap for an EU open trade policy to tackle challenges such as the “increasing weaponisation of trade”. SpiritsEurope’s ‘Objective 2030’ roadmap focuses on three key areas ‘Objective 2030’ is a detailed roadmap for an EU open trade policy, which was released at SpiritsEurope’s Summit 2024. Its aim is to […]
Trade body SpiritsEurope has released a roadmap for an EU open trade policy to tackle challenges such as the “increasing weaponisation of trade”.
‘Objective 2030’ is a detailed roadmap for an EU open trade policy, which was released at SpiritsEurope’s Summit 2024. Its aim is to support competitiveness, resilience and growth in the future.
Ian McLernon, SpiritsEurope president, said: “Trade and exports have been at the heart of our sector for centuries. Often seen as iconic products and symbols of European culture, EU spirits remain a powerhouse for EU exports, supporting countless jobs in rural communities.
“However, this success should not be taken for granted. We face significant challenges, from the global economic slowdown impacting consumer purchasing power to growing geopolitical tensions and the increasing weaponisation of trade.
“To overcome these challenges, we need an open trade policy that fosters competitiveness, resilience, and growth.”
Objective 2030 encourages the EU to focus on three specific areas. Firstly, SpiritsEurope said the EU must create a stable and open trade environment for EU spirits by protecting them from unrelated trade disputes. Furthermore, it must prioritise multilateral solutions and strengthen public-private cooperation.
Secondly, the roadmap also highlights how the EU should ‘deepen’ regulatory cooperation with third countries to remove and prevent trade barriers.
Thirdly, the EU is called upon to expand market access and support diversification. To do this, SpiritsEurope said it must conclude trade agreements with key growth regions, and back them with economic diplomacy and promotional activities.
Pauline Bastidon, external trade director at SpiritsEurope, added: “Delivering significant results on these three calls for action will provide us with more options, greater resilience, and the ability to continue innovating and investing in sustainable practices.
“This is our vision for an open trade policy agenda that promotes competitiveness, security, and sustainability—one that allows us to keep contributing to the EU agri-food success story, the EU’s trade balance, and rural communities.”
Challenges currently facing EU spirits producers include the recent introduction of tariffs on EU brandy exports to China, including Cognac.
On 8 October, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said it would impose provisional anti-dumping dutiesagainst imports of European brandy from Friday 11 October.
Analytics firm GlobalData said the move could “drastically” decrease the competitiveness of the category in China.
Source: The Spirits Business
