American whiskey makers set their sights on Europe as Trump-era tariffs are lifted
The 25% tariff on U.S. whiskey will be removed in January. Gone too will be the tariffs on U.S. motorcycles and denim, all levied during the Trump administration's trade battle with the E.U.
Amir Peay had high hopes when he salvaged the abandoned 140-year-old James E. Pepper Distillery near the heart of Lexington, Kentucky. After years of planning and renovations, it was finally ready to produce whiskey on site in 2017. But Peay's hopes were dashed a few months later, as the European Union imposed tariffs on American whiskey.
"We thought we
