MILAN/FRANKFURT/LONDON/PARIS: The U.S. Supreme Court ruling against President Donald Trump's trade tariffs comes with a sting in the tail for European wine makers, chemical companies, and distillers.

While many businesses cheered the U.S. Supreme Court decision, European trade groups, companies, and analysts worried that the ruling may make trade relations even messier after hard-struck trade deals last year.

"This ruling ... risks creating a boomerang effect, producing further uncertainty and a freeze on orders while operators wait for a clearer regulatory framework," said Paolo Castelletti, secretary general of Italian wine association UIV.

The United States is the biggest buyer of Italian wine. In 2024, Italy exported about 1.9 billion euros (US$2.3 billion) of wine to the U.S., accounting for almost one-fourth of its worldwide wine exports.

Many companies warned that President Trump might find other ways to reimpose similar tariffs, offsetting any benefit from lower duties. They also said this could increase tensions between the U.S. and its major trading partners. Getting refunds on tariffs could also be difficult.

After the court ruling, Trump announced new 10 percent tariffs on imports for an initial 150-day period. He said it was unclear whether companies would receive any refunds.

New Period of Uncertainty

Steve Ovara, head of the International Trade Practice Group at the law firm King & Spalding, said most companies his firm advises — from big U.S. manufacturers to technology and consumer goods companies — believe any relief from tariffs will not last long.

He said the main issue in the short term will be more uncertainty.

Wolfgang Grosse Entrup, managing director of the German chemicals and pharmaceutical lobby VCI, which represents companies such as BASF, Bayer, and Evonik, agreed.

He said this is not the start of a stable period for businesses, but another phase of uncertainty. He added that anyone who thinks the tariff conflict is over is wrong, because new tariffs based on different legal reasons could be introduced at any time.

Peter Sand, chief analyst at the freight pricing platform Xeneta, said political risk remains a problem for shipping companies. He said the move to make supply chains safer and less risky is a long-term trend that cannot be reversed. Much of the damage to supply chains has already been done and is unlikely to be fixed soon.

France's cosmetics association FEBEA, which includes companies like L'Oreal, said it is being very careful about the ruling and is waiting to see how the U.S. government responds, including whether it introduces new tariffs.

FEBEA Secretary General Emmanuel Guichard said businesses are accustomed to constant changes and surprises in customs duties.

Massimiliano Giansanti, president of Italy's farmers' group Confagricoltura, said the U.S. ruling removes the legal basis for Trump's tariffs. However, he warned that it creates more problems for exporters who had just started adjusting to U.S. tariffs. He said this creates deep instability at a time when businesses need certainty and are working closely with U.S. importers.

In Ireland, whiskey exporters are waiting to see what happens before taking any action, according to Eoin Ó Catháin, Director of the Irish Whiskey Association. He said that political talks and efforts to reduce tensions are more likely to resolve tariff issues.

He added that this ruling is not a complete solution to remove tariffs, but just another complication in an ongoing issue.

Trump Levies Fresh 15% Tariff Globally

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump after earlier announcing on social media that he had signed an executive order enabling him to bypass Congress and impose a 10 percent tax on imports from around the world, increased it to 15 percent the next day.