Importing and exporting beer or other alcohol beverages involves multiple levels of government regulation and taxation. Some regulations, taxes, and reporting requirements mirror your existing compliance obligations as a brewery. Other obligations are unique and include government agencies that are not involved in regulating domestic producers, such as US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Commerce Department.
The nations you target for selling or importing can have layers of regulations just as daunting as they are in the United States. Multinational trade agreements, treaties and laws at the national, state, provincial or municipal levels may apply to your activities and govern critical topics, including:
- Excise and other taxes
- Product classification and tariffs
- National support for domestic producers and exports
- Impediments to trade
In addition to government regulation, entering new import or export agreements with businesses requires diligence. Among other things, you will have to consider:
- Logistics and warehousing
- Options for sale, distribution, and payment
- Industry customs
- Intellectual property protection
In the latest issue of The New Brewer, McDermott’s Bethany Hatef outlines the key US alcohol regulatory requirements that apply to companies seeking to import or export beer.
Originally published in The New Brewer, March/April 2020