Hugo Stewart, a winemaker based in Wiltshire, had considered abandoning a long-booked trip to the United States to conduct a tasting event for his sparkling wine. However, after President Trump threatened last week to impose a 200 per cent tariff on wine and champagne imports from the European Union, Stewart said he was reconsidering. “Maybe there’s an opportunity for us to replace some of the champagne,” Stewart said.
He was quickly proved right. The day after Trump’s comments, Stewart received an order from an importer in Oregon who had long signalled an interest in stocking Domaine Hugo, his sparkling wine, but had done little about it over the past two years.
When Trump threatened to raise the stakes in his trade dispute with the
