Cork exempt from US tariffs

That positive news comes amid a backdrop of tariffs being imposed not only on imported wine and spirits, but on other winemaking supplies, including packaging items like wine bottles and French oak.

All cork stoppers were included on the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, or HTS - natural cork, one-on-ones, twin tops, sparkling corks, etc.

The exemption for cork was accomplished through concerted efforts involving a number of groups. The Natural Cork Council worked with the Portuguese Embassy and their economic attaché, and with agencies in Washington including AICEP, the Portuguese Trade and Investment Agency. On the other side of the Atlantic, APCOR, the Portuguese cork association, worked with negotiators from Portugal who were represented at EU headquarters who pushed EU negotiators to add cork to the framework agreement.

Natural Cork Council executive director Patrick Spencer met with delegates from the U.S. Trade Representative's Office and the Bureau of Industry and Security who were initially unclear about cork is and where it comes from. He worked with the Portuguese embassy in ensuring information about cork and how integral it is to the American wine industry got to U.S. negotiators.

Wine checks the boxes when it comes to the Trump administration’s goals for ‘made in America’ – it’s a big industry employing thousands.

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