The Power of Coalitions
In 2017 when the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act was passed, it was largely due to the unprecedented collaboration among the wine, beer, spirits, and cider trade associations, resulting in major excise tax reductions for all. Historically, the different beverages often went their own ways, and sometimes fought on certain issues, so the CBMTRA clearly showed the benefits of collaboration.
That continues today on certain issues of common interest, like the Toasts not Tariffs coalition which seeks to avoid tariffs on alcohol beverages that could hurt commerce worldwide. Our colleagues at Wine Institute recently issued a statement noting that U.S. wine sales to Canada exceed $1.1 billion, and that even though California wines represent the vast majority of those sales, the entire U.S. wine industry would be hurt. We at WineAmerica strongly agree, as do our colleagues representing the other beverage categories. For now the tariffs on Canada have been paused for a month, but may be resumed.
On another issue, Michael Kaiser, Executive Vice President and Director of Government Affairs at WineAmerica, submitted our organization’s comments to the Department of Health and Human Services regarding the development for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), and particularly concerns about the process which has been used this time and its major discrepancies from past procedures.