The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Inc. (DISCUS) 

is a national trade association representing producers and marketers of distilled spirits sold in the United States." (http://www.discus.org/about/background.htm )

Member Companies: (see http://www.discus.org/about/info.htm )

For Immediate Release - July 28th, 2005
Contact: Sarah Rosen or Lisa Hawkins
Telephone: 202-682-8840

WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Distilled Spirits Council today congratulated the House for joining the Senate in approving the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) last night. The DR-CAFTA will open the Central American market immediately to U.S. exports, secure important protection for Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey and solidify the status of Central American nations as important trading partners for the U.S. spirits industry.

The DR-CAFTA offers important advantages for American products in a growing market, including the elimination of tariffs on U.S. spirits – which are as high as 40% ad valorem in certain DR-CAFTA markets – and protects the unique identity of U.S. products: Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey.

Under the provisions of the DR-CAFTA, the Central American countries will immediately eliminate tariffs on U.S. produced whiskey and gin. Honduras will also eliminate immediately its current tariff of 15 percent on liqueurs. The Dominican Republic will immediately eliminate the tariff on most American whiskies, specifically Bourbon and Tennessee Whiskey. All other tariffs will be phased out over 5, 10, 12 or 15 years.

Over the last five years, U.S. direct exports of distilled spirits to Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic have grown by almost 85 percent, reaching over $3.9 million. The U.S.-Central American-Dominican Republic FTA will help ensure continued growth in U.S. spirits exports to the region.

Since 1990, U.S. exports of distilled spirits worldwide have more than doubled, growing to over $716 million in 2004. In 2004, total U.S. exports of spirits increased by 22.1 percent over 2003 values.

Comment: As usual when we read such sales figures there is a lot of human tragedy behind it. The politicians who agreed with such a treaty cannot see it.

Kurze Zusammenfassung (Übersetzung HT. Meyer)

Der Rat der Spirituosenfabrikanten in den USA freut sich, dass das amerikanische Parlament den Freihandelsvertrag mit den mittelamerikanischen Staaten und der Dominikanischen Republik angenommen hat. Spirituosen waren bisher mit hohen Importsteuern belastet, die nun in den meisten Ländern sofort wegfallen, während alle andern Tarife über 5 bis 15 Jahre abgebaut werden. Die Spirituosenfabrikanten dürfen nun mit einem noch grösseren Wachstum ihres Exportes rechnen. Über die letzten 5 Jahre haben ihre Exporte nach Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic bereits fast 85% zugelegt. Seit 1990 haben sich die Spirituosen-Exporte der USA weltweit mehr als verdoppelt auf über $716 Mio. im Jahr 2004. Verglichen mit dem Vorjahr war ein Anstieg von 22.1% zu verzeichnen.

Kommentar: Wie immer bei solchen Verkaufszahlen der Alkoholindustrie steht dahinter viel Leid. Die Politiker, die diesen Deal erreicht haben, sind dafür blind.