As the U.S. remains embattled in an ever-changing trade war with Canada and tariffs from the European Union loom, bourbon makers in Kentucky are trying to find their footing and plan a path forward.

Now, Europe’s infatuation with Kentucky bourbon and other U.S. spirits is threatened by the potential 50% tariff — double the previous levy — that would inflict “irreparable harm to distillers large and small,” said Chris Swonger, the council’s CEO.

The iconic Kentucky bourbon industry, a major contributor to the state’s economy, is now facing significant losses due to escalating trade tensions between the United States and Canada. In response to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration,