NABI’s Bill Earle: Short Term, U.S. Importers Can Make Quick Profit; NABI Will Support TTB Proposal

Bill Earle, president, National Association of Beverage Importers, while noting that it is far to early to see the full impact of the vote, told Kane’s Beverage News Daily one immediate impact is that beverage importers will, at least for now, be able to buy products from the UK for less than they would have paid yesterday.

In another development, Earle said NABI would support a proposed rulemaking that would allow importers to make one electronic filing for imported bev/al instead of a number of filings, including paper copies, with a variety of agencies.

It’s a great step toward efficiency for the importers, and for government agencies.  He told us 47 different agencies interact with Customs & Border Protection Bureau on imports.

You can here the full interview here:

In another development, Christine LoCascio, senior vp-international trade, Distilled Spirits Council, said the trade group was “disappointed” in the vote.  She noted that “as the result of a 1994 treaty, the vast majority of spirits exports and imports between the U.S. and the EU have entered both markets duty-free.” The UK is the top market for U.S. spirits exports.

“The UK’s decision certainly generates significant uncertainty.  However, given the shared interest in spirits trade across the Atlantic, the Council looks forward to working with the U.S. and UK governments and others to ensure continued duty-free access for U.S. spirits to the UK.”

In 2015, U.S. spirits exports to the UK reached almost $231 million; of that, 88.5% was American Whiskey.  UK spirits imports into the U.S. were valued at $1.55 billion in the same year.  Of this, approximately 74% is accounted for by Scotch Whisky.

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