Wine-Searcher reports that the US administration has opened applications for more than US$166 billion in tariff refunds, giving wine importers a long-awaited financial reprieve after months of absorbing trade costs. The article argues that shoppers are unlikely to see dramatic price cuts, but the refunds could help prevent further rises and ease pressure on businesses that kept prices steady by taking the hit themselves. In effect, this is one of the first concrete pieces of good news for wine importers caught in tariff disruption, even if the benefit reaches consumers only indirectly.
Tax
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Vinarchy UK Hit with £8 Million Packaging Tax
The Drinks Business reports that Vinarchy UK has been charged at least £8 million under the Extended Producer Responsibility packaging regime in 2025, a levy that applies across materials including glass and to UK businesses with turnover of at least £1 million that handle more than 25 tonnes of packaging a year. The report adds that revenue fell to £422 million from £461 million, while pre-tax losses narrowed to £6.4 million from £103 million, with chief executive Danny Celoni saying the combined business is still performing in line with profit expectations.
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Trump Tariffs Keep Pushing Up EU Wine Prices
Bloomberg says EU wine is still feeling the after effects of US tariffs, with duties having moved from 10% to 15% last year and price rises now feeding through at different speeds depending on region, grape and label. The broader significance is that this is no longer just a trade policy story, it is now a pricing and availability story for importers, merchants and drinkers, with retailers also experimenting with ways to source European bottles already inside the US in order to soften the blow.
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New York Retailer Turns to Wine Auctions to Avoid US Tariffs
Reuters reports that Brooklyn merchant Chris Leon is trying to soften the impact of US tariffs on European wine by buying bottles that are already sitting in American cellars, then reselling them through online auctions. The idea is to avoid new import costs on wines from France, Italy and Spain, while also giving consumers access to older and sometimes discontinued bottles. The report says Leon & Son makes about 90% of its revenue from imported wine, which shows how sharply tariff policy is reshaping the trade and encouraging more creative retail models.
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EU Enters ‘Last Mile’ of Trade Deal Negotiations With Australia
Reuters reports that the EU is in the final phase of negotiating a trade deal with Australia, and wine and spirits are explicitly among the sectors expected to benefit if tariffs are reduced. For the wine trade, the significance is clear, Brussels says the agreement could lift EU exports to Australia by a third over 10 years and remove up to €1 billion in duties, making this one of the more consequential policy developments for European producers and exporters today.
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UK Alcohol Tax Revenue Falls £285m Despite Higher Duty Rates
The Drinks Business reports that provisional HM Revenue & Customs figures show UK Alcohol Duty receipts are down 4% year on year in the 2025 to 2026 financial year to date, totalling £7,010 million, £285 million less than the same period last year, despite repeated duty upratings and ahead of a further RPI linked increase from February 2026. Most categories are lower, wine and other fermented products are down £100 million to £2.58 billion, spirits show the sharpest drop, down £156 million to £2.15 billion, and beer is down £59 million to £2.09 billion, while cider rises £30 million to £175 million but remains a small share of annual receipts.
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UK Exporters Face Fresh Uncertainty After Proposed US Tariff Change
Harpers reports that, after the US Supreme Court struck down Trump’s earlier tariff regime, the president announced plans for a 15% global tariff rate, a move that could raise duties on some UK drinks exports to the US. The article highlights analysis suggesting UK exports could see an average tariff rise of 2.1%, and includes comments from WineGB’s chief executive warning that higher costs would ultimately be borne by consumers, potentially slowing strong recent export growth for English and Welsh wine.
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China Warns French Wine Could Be Targeted in EU Tariff Dispute
Reuters reports that China has signalled French wine could face retaliation if France pushes the EU towards tougher tariff measures against Chinese imports, a warning that underlines how politically exposed premium wine and spirits exports can be when trade rows escalate, and comes as investors watch for knock on effects across French drinks groups and their Asian sales.
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Pubs Brace for Pass Through Costs, Wine Mentioned in the Price Rise Mix
LBC says pubs and producers are warning customers to expect price increases as the duty rise comes into force, and it explicitly calls out the duty bump for a 14.5% bottle of red wine. It frames the change as another squeeze point for hospitality, arguing that venues have limited room to absorb tax and operating cost rises. The piece also repeats the broader context that duty was announced earlier and is now arriving at tills, with the impact expected across both on trade and off trade sales.
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UK Alcohol Duty Rise Triggers Fresh Wine Price Warnings
Sky News reports that a 3.66% alcohol duty increase due to take effect on Sunday 1 February is prompting industry warnings of knock-on price rises, including for wine, as producers and retailers pass costs through. The report highlights that while duty is paid by manufacturers, the sector expects a “trickle down” impact at the till, and it points to cumulative increases on wine duty over recent years as pressure builds. The duty rise was confirmed in the autumn budget by Rachel Reeves, with the article emphasising the change applies across beer, wine, and spirits.