Constantin Richter, a 10th-generation vintner in the Mosel Valley, is deeply concerned about US President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs of up to 200% on EU wine imports. Richter's vineyard, which exports around a third of its wine to the US, faces potential ruin if these tariffs are implemented. This crisis comes at a challenging time for German vintners, who are already grappling with high labor costs, complex bureaucracy and rising global wine production pushing prices down.
Trump's tariff threat has cast a shadow over Germany's largest wine trade fair in Düsseldorf, with many fearing a collapse in revenue. German wines, known for their high quality and excellent reputation, have remained competitive. But maintaining profits and sales is becoming increasingly difficult.
Despite previous resilience to 25% tariffs in 2019, the prospect of 200% tariffs is daunting, leaving winemakers hoping for a compromise and more active support from the German government.
This video summary was created by AI from the original DW script. It was edited by a journalist before publication.