Food & Wine 2.20.2026
Food & Wine: A Historic Supreme Court Decision Just Ended Trump’s Tariffs — With Far-Reaching Effects on Wine and Food Imports
One of the plaintiffs in the conjoined cases (two separate cases challenging the tariffs were joined by the Court) is V.O.S. Selections, a noted New York-based wine importer. The tariffs obviously reach far beyond wine, but they’ve been a blow to anyone who makes a living importing wines from Europe (where tariffs are currently 15%), South Africa (30%), and beyond.
European wines account for roughly 16% of total U.S. wine volume and 24% of revenue, according to data from the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America’s SipSource. V.O.S. owner Victor Schwartz said when bringing the case to court, “[In Spring of 2025], thousands of American small businesses like mine were thrown into chaos. The administration’s tariff taxes — which my business was forced to pay — threatened our survival. These duties were not like past tariffs set by Congress, which we could plan around. These new tariffs were arbitrary, unpredictable, and bad business.”