A Virginia distillery got some unexpected attentionthis week when Senator Tim Kaine held up a bottle of its whisky in Congress. He was making a point about the effects of the Trump administration’s trade war.
One of Senator Kaine’s aides recently called Scott Harris, general manager and founder of Catoctin Creek Distilling Company in Loudoun County. He was asked for some talking points on the tariffs issue.
“But the fact that he pulled out a bottle and sort of gave us a brief commercial was unexpected and quite nice,” said Harris.
Harris is worried that a five-year and $100,0000 investment to break into the European market will no longer have much of a return thanks to the ongoing trade war.
“We have heard from our distributors over there that the price increases will be difficult for them to bear,” Harris said. “So basically it means that our sales in Europe now will come to a stop.”
President Donald Trump says tariffs on imported goods help protect American jobs. But when China and the E.U retaliate, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine says its Virginia businesses that hurt.
“We talk about a trade war and the question is ‘Who is it against?’ and in Virginia it seems it’s against farmers and workers,” Kaine said during a Senate hearing on international trade.
Soybean and pork farmers are also bearing the brunt.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
