Europeans Saw Trump’s Trade War Coming and Gorged on US Booze

Europeans splurged on American spirits ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House and the potential for him to start another trade war.

The value of shipments to the European Union rose about 40% to $1.2 billion last year, according to a report from the Distilled Spirits Council of the US, an industry trade group.

Bottles of Jack Daniel’s whiskey for sale in a store in Lisbon.

Photographer: Zed Jameson/Bloomberg

The threat of new levies helped boost demand in America’s largest spirits export market as the industry saw global shipments gain 10% to a record $2.4 billion, the research said.

But that growth has been tempered by Trump igniting a new round ...