Hogan Lovells trade team once again cracks the case against glass wine bottles

The USITC has determined that imports of glass wine bottles from China and Mexico are not causing material injury or threatening material injury to the large and highly consolidated U.S. wine bottle makers. This is the fourth consecutive victory at the USITC for the team from Hogan Lovells in cases involving glass packaging.

International Trade & Investment partner Mike Jacobson said: “We are pleased to have secured another favorable ruling for our client Berlin Packaging, and for the wineries and farmers that depend on Berlin to get their bottles in the quantities, shapes, and packaging that the domestic glassmakers simply will not provide. This continues our firm’s storied history in protecting U.S. agriculture from allegations of unfair trade.”

Berlin Packaging, a prominent supplier of packaging products including glass wine bottles, argued that the high-priced imports were not harmful to the dominant domestic wine bottle makers. The USITC agreed.

International Trade & Investment partner Jared Wessel said: “This is now the fourth time since 2020 that the USITC has rejected domestic glassmakers’ requests for tariffs on glass containers. At no point has the domestic industry even managed to secure one vote it its favor. Hopefully, domestic producers will stop this wasteful exercise.”

This outcome highlights Hogan Lovells’ dedication to protecting our clients’ interests in complex trade issues at the USITC.

The Hogan Lovells team consisted of Mike Jacobson (Partner), Jared Wessel (Partner), and Lyric Galvin (Associate).