Commissioner Quarles issues statement on tariffs lifted from Kentucky bourbon

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Agriculture Commissioner Dr. Ryan Quarles is applauding an agreement reached this week between the United States and the United Kingdom that ends a 25 percent retaliatory tariff on Kentucky bourbon and American whiskey.

According to a release by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the tariffs were among those imposed in 2018 on some American products by the European Union in response to U.S. imposing a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum from the EU. An agreement to lift the tariffs was reached in October 2021 between the EU and the U.S. However, the UK and the U.S. didn’t finalize their agreements to end the tariffs until this week. The tariffs are slated to end June 1.

“The end of these tariffs was an issue I raised during my recent trade mission to the U.K. As agriculture commissioner, an essential responsibility of mine is advocating for Kentucky agriculture and farm families,” said Commissioner Quarles. “These tariffs were hurting the bourbon industry and those farm families that provide the agriculture necessities for the industry. While the end of these tariffs is excellent news, I would encourage the Biden administration to move forward on free trade agreements critical to the agriculture sector of our economy.”

The release went on to state that Kentucky is home to 95 percent of the global bourbon industry.