Tariffs Have Caused Disdain For American Businesses

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Export trouble.  One year in, many wine producers say tariffs have not helped them, and some countries are rejecting U.S. wine altogether.

The resistance to American products overseas has been especially painful for wine producers who had significant export markets, like Kutch Wines, which makes small amounts of exquisite pinot noirs and chardonnays from the Sonoma Coast and the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Another California winemaker, Ridge Vineyards, a much bigger producer than Kutch, produces 28% of its sales through exports.

“Export has always been a big part of our business, and we’ve seen the effects,” he said. “The reaction was immediate and severe. Canada just stopped importing. It was our third-largest export market after the United Kingdom and Japan, and it just went away," says John Olney, Ridge's chief executive and head winemaker.

Since taking office last year, President Trump imposed tariffs on virtually all products imported into the United States. These tariffs have caused disdain for American businesses.