Richard Blau Featured in Beer Marketer's INSIGHTS

Tampa, Fla. – July 15, 2020 – Attorney Richard M. Blau, shareholder and chair of GrayRobinson’s alcohol beverage law, food law and cannabis industry law groups, was featured in Vol 22, No 150 of INSIGHTS Express, Beer Marketer's INSIGHTS e-newsletter. The article, "The Lobbying and Lawyering Continue: Taxes, Tariffs, Access and More; 20-Year Wait for Test Drive," discusses the distillers, vintners, alcohol beverage importers and their wholesalers encouraging US Trade Representatives to drop the 25% tariffs imposed on some European alcohol beverages, and discouraging them not to add the 100% tariffs on other European wines, spirits and beers that trade officials are considering.

The article reveals that Mr. Blau filed public comments with the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on behalf of an alcohol industry cloent opposing current tariffs and proposED new ones. Richard points out, "A dispute over civil aircraft and aeronautic equipment does not involve alcohol beverages, and should not punish industry members and consumers who deal with those products." What’s more, these tariffs are simply a tax on hospitality, hurt retailers/restaurants and consumers, destroy jobs, cut tax revenues and "will exacerbate existing recessionary pressures and inflict collateral damage on states and communities across America" during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Blau argues. To read the full article, visit Beer Marketer's INSIGHTS. (subscription required)