Whiskey makers fear trade war consequences

US whiskey makers say they see great demand and rapid growth in China, but right now, they also see both being hurt if China imposes a 25 percent tariff

"All US whiskey makers are looking to China," said Paul Hletko, founder of Few Spirits, a craft distillery based in Evanston, Illinois. "If the tariffs take... effect, it will have a negative impact on US whiskey exports, it will slow down the growth of this market with great potential if not eliminate it. I'm talking with my Chinese distributors and we are monitoring the situation closely."

"We've been exporting to China for about two years, and about 50 percent of our business is in Shanghai," Hletko said, adding most of the exported products are bourbon and rye.