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Turkey hits back at US with 140% alcohol tariff

Turkey has increased tariffs on US-made alcoholic drinks to 140% as tensions between the two countries continue.

Turkey has imposed a 140% tariff on US alcoholic drinks

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signed the decree to raise tariffs after the US doubled tariffs last week over Turkey’s refusal to free US pastor Andrew Brunson, who is currently imprisoned there.

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday (15 August), White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said: “The tariffs from Turkey are certainly regrettable and a step in the wrong direction.

“The tariffs that the United States placed on Turkey were out of national security interests. Theirs are out of retaliation.

“I’m not going to get ahead of anything on what we may or may not do in an effort to respond, but certainly we don’t support Turkey’s decision to retaliate against us protecting our national security interests.”

The US has been embroiled in numerous trade wars of late, including China, the EU and Canada, all of which have had an effect on American whiskey. These disputes were the result of the US imposing tariff hikes on steel and aluminium by 25% and 10% respectively.

In response, China imposed a 25% tariff on American whiskey, while the EU responded with tariffs on €2.8 billion worth of US products, including American whiskey. Canada also slapped a 10% tariff on American whiskey.

Last month, nine leading whisk(e)y associations gathered in Kentucky for a summit to discuss the trade wars, urging the removal of tariffs imposed on their products as a result of ongoing trade disputes with the US.

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