Belgium's world-famous breweries are in a tight spot. Recent U.S. tariffs slapped a 15% duty on beer exports, and extra taxes on aluminum cans have poured more woes on brewers' plates 🍺💸.
At Brussels' 25th annual beer festival, beer lovers from all over got to sample 570 brews from 57 local brewers—though cheers were a bit muted this year. For small and mid-sized players, the new costs could mean higher prices stateside or slimmer margins back home 😬.
"Of course there will come price increases to be affordable still as a brewery to export to the United States. But then it's to be creative and see to which price point a consumer of the United States will buy the Belgian beer," said Michiel Clyncke, Co-CEO of the Kasteel Brewery Vanhonsebrouck.
Exports still flow: In 2024 alone, nearly 4 billion dollars worth of European beer made its way into the U.S. But tougher tariffs and rising can costs are forcing brewers to rethink strategies—think creative pricing, leaner packaging, or new markets.
And it's not just exports feeling flat: domestic demand in Belgium has also lost its fizz, signaling that even homegrown fans are getting pickier.
For brewers, the challenge now is to find that sweet spot between quality, price, and consumer taste—both in Brussels' Grand Place and on U.S. taps 🍻✨.
Where do you stand? Are these tariffs a fair trade tactic or just pouring salt in the beer? Let us know below! 👇
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
