S. 952: To amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to provide a uniform 8-digit subheading number for all whiskies.

This bill aims to amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States specifically concerning whiskies. It introduces a uniform 8-digit subheading number for all whiskies, which will consolidate various existing subheadings into a single one for better classification and management of import duties.

Key Provisions of the Bill

1. Uniform Duty Treatment of Whiskies

The bill proposes to strike existing subheadings related to whiskies and replace them with a new designation:

• 2208.30.00 - Whiskies

Under this subheading, the duty applied will be:

• Free for certain categories.
• $2.04 per proof liter for others, which might include various types and packaging of whiskies.

2. Instruction to the United States International Trade Commission

The United States International Trade Commission is tasked with updating the tariff schedule by adding statistical suffixes to the new subheading. These suffixes will cover various categories of whiskies based on their type and packaging, including but not limited to:

• Irish or Scotch whiskies in containers under or over 4 liters.
• Bourbon whiskies in containers under or over 4 liters.
• Rye whiskies in containers under or over 4 liters.
• Other whiskies in containers under or over 4 liters.

3. Effective Date

The provisions of this bill will take effect 15 days after it is enacted, affecting all articles entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption after that date.

Relevant Companies

• DEO - Diageo plc: A major player in the global spirits market with a robust portfolio of whisky brands, could see affected tariff rates impacting their pricing and competitiveness in the U.S. whiskey market.
• WHYY - Brown-Forman Corporation: Known for brands like Jack Daniel's, Brown-Forman might experience changes in import costs due to the new tariff classifications.
• LEO - Beam Suntory: As a producer of well-known whisky brands, the new tariff structure could influence their operational costs in the U.S. market.