International Engagement

Active international engagement is critical to addressing trade barriers and Wine Institute plays a leadership role in numerous intergovernmental and trade organizations as it seeks to address trade challenges and grow exports.

World Wine Trade Group

The World Wine Trade Group (WWTG) is an official assembly of government and industry representatives from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Georgia, New Zealand, South Africa and the U.S. The WWTG is based on two hallmark agreements: the 2001 Mutual Acceptance Agreement (MAA) on Oenological Practices, whereby signatories agreed to recognize the winemaking practices of the other parties, and the 2007 Agreement on the Requirements for Wine Labeling.

Learn more at  https://www.wwtg-gmcv.org/

International Wine Technical Summit

Wine Institute and the U.S. government have worked together since 2010 to develop the International Wine Technical Summit (IWTS), strengthening relationships between industry, international scientists, and government scientists and regulators. The Summit is a collaborative group of government and industry representatives who understand technical and laboratory issues surrounding wine production and trade. Summit delegates share best practices and exchange ideas and experiences regarding sound science in wine regulation and enforcement. Participants are a unique mix of regulatory and industry experts from wine producing countries and food regulatory officials from importing markets.

Learn more at https://www.iwts.org/

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Wine Regulatory Forum

APEC is an important Pacific Rim economic forum made up of 21 economies which supports sustainable economic growth and prosperity. APEC wine consumption more than doubled from 1990 to 2016 and wine production flourishes in many of the economies as well. APEC offers a particularly good opportunity for Pacific Rim regulators to address trade barriers through the Wine Regulatory Forum (WRF), which Wine Institute and the U.S. government jointly coordinate to help APEC economies implement sound, science-based regulations. Since 2011, the WRF has held seven international conferences bringing together regulators and stakeholders to discuss specific options to improve regulatory coherence and cooperation.

Learn more at https://www.wineregulatoryforum.org/

FIVS

FIVS is a global organization designed to serve the wine, spirits, and beer sectors from around the world on public policy issues. Its members include producers, distributors, importers, exporters, and trade associations. As a non-governmental organization, FIVS gathers and disseminates information related to activities of interest to its members and advocates consensus positions to international and intergovernmental organizations as well as governments.

Learn more at https://www.fivs.org/