Australia Wine
USIS Washington File: TEXT: USTR PRESS RELEASE ON FOREIGN TRADE BARRIERS REPORT
The report notes that the European Union and the United States share the largest two-way trade and investment relationship in the world with goods trade approaching $300 billion a year, services trade well over $100 billion a year and annual direct investment flows across the Atlantic of about $100 billion. However, the report also notes that restrictive distribution practices, tariffs, and unpredictable product approval, labeling and licensing requirements have restricted market access for U.S. goods and services providers. The report highlights the importance of gaining greater market access certainty for a range of products products, including food, pharmaceuticals, beef from animals treated with growth promoting hormones, products developed through the application of biotechnology, and wine. A recent breakthrough in the implementation of the U.S.-EU veterinary equivalency agreement should facilitate increased market access for U.S. meat exporters. On-going concerns with the EU ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Developing Countries Urged to Focus on Science of Biotechnology
He noted that in the 1500s the world experienced a public debate about the effects of coffee on health -- similar to the current debate about biotechnology -- that led some countries to temporarily ban its sale. France, he said, tried to dissuade people from drinking coffee, fearing wine sale losses. Germany feared losing sales of beer, he said. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: Glickman Says China's WTO Entry to Boost U.S. Exports
Agricultural exports to China could be even higher in 2005 than this nearly $2 billion annual estimate, Glickman said. China's projected 7-percent annual GDP growth will likely increase demand for many other products not included in the estimate, including dairy products such as cheese, snack foods, grocery items, wine, beef, distilled spirits, and tobacco. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: Agriculture Secretary Veneman Hails U.S.-China Agreement
Under various WTO accession agreements, China has agreed to slash trade barriers and open its markets. For example, in the 1999 U.S.-China accession agreement, China agreed to cut tariffs by more than half on priority U.S. agricultural products such as beef, poultry, cheese, oranges, apples, wine, almonds, and others. With WTO entry, China also agreed to end import bans, expand trading rights for U.S. firms, and eliminate agricultural export subsidies. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Senate Passes Bill Granting Normal Trade Relations for Laos
-- Amend U.S. regulatory law concerning cellar treatment for both domestic and imported natural wine in line with a 2001 international agreement to eliminate testing of wine for reasons other than health and safety. ... Congressional sources have indicated they intended this provision to provide leverage in negotiations with the European Union to accept U.S. wine-making practices. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: House Passes Bill Repealing 1916 Dumping Law WTO Ruled Illegal
The EU has refused to accept U.S. wine-making practices and threatens not to import any U.S. wines that do not meet EU production standards after 2005 unless the two sides negotiate an agreement before then. Congressional negotiators have indicated they intended this provision as leverage in U.S.-EU negotiations, which have achieved no agreement so far. ... -- In line with a 2001 international agreement to eliminate testing of wine for reasons other than health and safety, a provision that would amend U.S. regulatory law concerning cellar treatment for both domestic and imported natural wine. ... [Read More]
Frequently Asked Questions - General Information
"Excise taxes range from US$1.07 per gallon on still wines - containing not more than 14% alcohol to US$3.40 per gallon on champagne and other sparkling wines; US$18.00 per standard 31 gallon barrel of beer; and US$13.50 per proof gallon of distilled spirits. ... Duty rate for wine - 3.8 to 23.1 US cents per liter ... "SHIPPING ALCOHOL BY MAIL IS PROHIBITED BY UNITED STATES POSTAL LAWS. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES INCLUDE WINE AND BEER AS WELL AS DISTILLED SPIRITS. ... [Read More]
Washington HyperFile - East Asia/Pacific Edition
209 Text: USTR Announces Four-Country Agreement on Wine Standards ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: House Votes to Repeal 1916 Dumping Law Rejected by WTO
The EU has refused to accept U.S. wine-making practices and threatens not to import any U.S. wines that do not meet EU production standards after 2005 unless the two sides negotiate an agreement before then. Congressional negotiators have indicated they intended this provision, which could be used to bar U.S. imports of some EU wines, to provide leverage in U.S.-EU negotiations, which have achieved no agreement so far. ... -- Amend U.S. regulatory law concerning cellar treatment for both domestic and imported natural wine in line with a 2001 international agreement to eliminate testing of wine for reasons other than health and safety. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: USTR Announces Four-Country Agreement on Wine Standards
The Agreement recognizes that different countries use different wine making practices due to local conditions, climatic variations and traditions, and that grape growing and wine making practices are constantly evolving. The United States believes that for countries with strong mechanisms in place to regulate wine making, mutual acceptance is the optimal way to facilitate wine trade. ... Under the Agreement, each country will permit the importation of wines from the other signatory countries as long as these wines are made in accordance with each country's domestic laws, regulations and requirements on oenological practices. The United States already permits wine imports on these terms. This Agreement will commit these U.S. trading partners to ensure the same conditions for U.S. wines. ... [Read More]
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