Several Flemish breweries are anticipating a 200% level of import duty on alcohol beverages from the EU that has been threatened by the US President Donald Trump. The Huyghe Brewery in Melle East Flanders has decided to dispatch 20 containers of its Delirium Tremens beer to its facility in the United States straight away. The brewery is also sending additional stocks of Gouden Carlous beer. The Huyghe Brewery recently bought the Mechelen (Antwerp Province) brewery that makes Gouden Carolus.
The imposition of import tariffs and the threat of further tariffs on EU imports into the US is not only preoccupying the minds of politicians. Brewers too are deeply concerned about a plan drawn up by the US President Donald Trump to impose import tariffs of 200% on alcoholic drinks produced in the EU.
At the Hughe brewery in the East Flemish municipality of Melle they fear the price of their Delirium Tremens beer could triple in the United States. “As we have our own storage facility in America, we store 3 to 4 months stock there as standard. However, we have now decided to 20 containers that we had in stock in Belgium there straight away” the brewery’s managing director Alain De Laet to VRT News. The containers will leave for the US early next week.
“It might seem like we are panicking, but Trump is unpredictable. Thanks to the extra stock, we can hold out for about six months. If 200% the import tariff were still in place beyond that, I don't think our beer will still be marketable there and we would have to draw a line under things”.
“Delirium is already one of the most expensive beers on sale in the US. If we had to triple your price, I think that it would no longer be marketable.”
The Huyghe Brewery is also taking action to ensure that additional supplies of beer from its recently acquired Het Anker brewery in Mechelen reach the US ahead of the imposition of any new tariffs. “We are now going to do that faster than planned. I have also issued instructions to Mechelen to send all the beer to America immediately, even if there are containers that aren’t full. All the containers that are currently available will leave for America early next week.
What about Westmalle and Duvel?
At the Westmalle Trappist brewery they do not fear any major impact for the time being. “We export only 1% of our production to the US and so we are not too concerned for the time being”.
At Duvel Moortgat in Breendonk (Antwerp Province), they are refraining from comment for the time being. The company may be able to overcome any issues that might arise by using a its own brewery in the US to brew Duvel.