Trump’s Beer Tariffs Could Lead to 100,000 Job Losses in the EU, Warns Industry Group

A new trade warning has surfaced over President Donald Trump’s controversial beer tariffs, which could potentially cost the European Union tens of thousands of jobs. According to a report from the Financial Times, the EU brewers' trade group has raised concerns that the US’s 25% tariff on beer imports could lead to factory closures and widespread job losses across the industry.

Earlier this week, the US Commerce Department included beer and empty aluminum cans in its list of products subject to tariffs, targeting aluminum. This move is part of Trump’s broader strategy to impose import taxes on countries he claims have unfair trade practices.

The brewers are unclear whether the new tariff applies only to beer packaged in aluminum cans or to all beer products, causing confusion and uncertainty within the industry.

“We are urging the European Commission to intervene, either through negotiations or countermeasures, to prevent this tariff from damaging our industry,” Julia Leferman, the secretary-general of Brewers of Europe, told the Financial Times. The organization, which represents industry giants like InBev, Heineken, and Carlsberg, has expressed frustration as the EU’s Directorate-General for Trade has reached out to US officials but has yet to clarify the full impact of the new tariffs.

The EU beer sector exported €870 million (about $953 million) worth of beer to the US last year. Losing this business could have a devastating effect, potentially eliminating 100,000 jobs in the process.

This new tariff is part of Trump’s broader push to impose a 10% duty on all imports and higher tariffs on countries with which he claims the US has unfair trade imbalances. In response, he has argued that countries have been taking advantage of the US through practices like currency manipulation and high value-added taxes.

The brewing industry is now calling for swift action to protect jobs and ensure that European beers can continue to flow to US consumers without these added costs.

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