Will tariffs help or harm the wine industry in California?

Against the backdrop of demand and increasing costs, the wine industry in the US and California have been fighting in recent years. But while some in the industry are reported President Donald Trump’s tariff policies are bad for businessOthers say they could help homemade wine producers, writes Calmatters’ LevagsS

Since the beginning of August, the Trump administration has introduced 15% tariff for most European goods, including wine. Although negotiations continue, some American winemakers, restaurant owners and others call on Trump to exclude European faults due to the pulsation effects that may have on the wine business ecosystem.

In California, especially the US leads to tourism and wine-related exports, wine, distributors, retailers and restaurants rely on the sale of European wines for revenue. Their ability to spread American wine is also influenced by how much wine they can move.

• Paul AinbundThe owner of two Bay Area restaurants: “Most of my evenings will just not drink home (wine) … People up and down the supply chain are in difficulty.”

In 2022, the wine industry in California generated about $ 88 billion, and state wine exports amounts to $ 1.3 billion.

But others are not fully convinced that the release of European guilt from tariffs will help the diseased industry in the United States, they claim that since European winemakers are subsidized, California wine producers are already in a disadvantage. The European Union spends more than € 1 billion a year to help increase European wine, and some countries have their own subsidy programs.

• Richard samraGrape producer in the Delta of Sacramento and Lodi for 40 years: “Grape producers in the US do not have this. We want to equalize the playing field. We have many grapes and wine available for sale.”

Read more hereS

One of the most common methods that California uses to create homes at affordable prices can be questioned by a recent court case challenging the powers of the city of East Palo Alto to charge a residential fee.

Calm Ben Christopher He explains that about 149 cities and counties in California have rules for “inclusive zoning” that require the developers of new housing projects to pay for the shortage of state homes at affordable prices. Usually, developers do this by spending some of the new lower-income tenants units, but they can also pay a fee if they refuse.

Last week, the resident of the East Palo Alto Wesley Yu filed a lawsuit to the federal court after the rules for the inclusion of the city of the city required him to sell or hire one of the two residential units he planned to build at an “accessible” rate. If not, he will have to pay a one -time fee of $ 54,891.

Describing the fee as “blackmail”, Yu and his legal team rely on US Supreme Court Decision to disprove the zoning rules. The Supreme Court ruled last year that local authorities should show that certain fees they charge to builders should be. “approximately proportionate“Of the fiscal impact of development.

Read more hereS