European Firms Grapple With New U.S. Tariffs, Supply Chain Overhauls

European businesses face mounting challenges as Trump-era tariffs take effect, imposing a 15% duty on most goods exported to the U.S. The levies—the highest in a century—are forcing winemakers, manufacturers, and distributors to absorb costs or restructure operations. "Trading with the United States is now hellishly more difficult," said Andrew Wilson of the International Chamber of Commerce, noting record shipment delays and logistical reconfigurations.

In Germany's Moselle Valley, vintner Johannes Selbach stands amid crates marked for U.S. delivery, lamenting the collapse of zero-tariff hopes. The new reality squeezes margins for exporters and importers alike, with small producers particularly vulnerable. While lower than initially proposed, these tariffs show no signs of retreat absent an American economic downturn—a scenario few anticipate.