The American spirits industry’s roaring ’20s has turned to a whimper.

The latest report released by the (DISCUS) reveals that after a record-breaking 2024 for exports, sales to the European Union, , the United Kingdom, and Japan sharply declined in the second quarter of 2025 amid Trump’s trade war and backlash to American products. Overall, U.S. spirits exports to the globe dropped 9 percent year-over-year in the second quarter.

“This new data is very troubling for U.S. distillers,” said DISCUS President and CEO Chris Swonger. “Persistent trade tensions are having an immediate and adverse effect on U.S. spirits exports. There’s a growing concern that our international consumers are increasingly opting for domestically produced spirits or imports from countries other than the U.S., signal

See Full Page