Wines and spirits have often become pawns in geopolitical spats - and why beer is mostly spared

Show notes

In January, the Chinese government launched an anti-dumping inquiry into all brandy and cognac imported from the EU. Cognac producers deny the allegation. In reality, they have been caught in the crossfire of a tit-for-tat trade dispute between Brussels and Beijing. By targeting cognac, China is expressing its displeasure not just with the EU’s probe into China’s subsidies for electric vehicles, but also with the EU Commission’s plans to de-risk the bloc's bilateral relations with China.

In this podcast Ina Verstl and Ernst Faltermeier look at trade disputes past and present and explain why wines and spirits make for ideal targets in cross-retaliatory measures and punitive tariffs.

Brauwelt International is hosting a series of podcasts, which feature the award-winning authors Ina Verstl and Ernst Faltermeier, whose book The Beer Monopoly was published by Hans Carl in 2016. Get their book: The Beer Monopoly

Ina Verstl is Editor of BRAUWELT International and gives insights to the brewing industry in a weekly newsletter.