French Government Pushes to Shield Wine and Spirits from US Tariffs

Amid rising tensions over potential tariffs on European goods, the French government is urgently working to protect its vital wine and spirits sectors from new US tariffs. President Emmanuel Macron, during a recent council meeting, assured that France would continue its fight, stating, "Ce n'est pas la fin de l'histoire et nous n'en resterons pas là," which translates to "This is not the end of the story, and we will not stop here." This ongoing negotiation comes as the US proposes a 15% tariff on various EU products, a move that threatens to impact French exports significantly.

The French spirits sector, which includes renowned products like cognac and armagnac, is particularly vulnerable, exporting €1.4 billion worth of goods to the US. Additionally, the French wine industry exports approximately €2.3 billion to the same market. Éric Lombard, the Economy Minister, alongside other officials, has emphasized the critical nature of these negotiations for France's economy. Minister of State for Foreign Trade Laurent Saint-Martin stated, "Il reste dans les prochains jours des négociations extrêmement importantes et on veut que notre voix soit entendue, notamment sur des secteurs clés," meaning that there are extremely important negotiations in the coming days and they want their voice to be heard, especially on key sectors.

In contrast, Agriculture Minister Annie Gennevard expressed uncertainty regarding the outcome of these negotiations, highlighting the anxiety and concern among producers in the affected sectors as they await a resolution that could have far-reaching implications for their businesses. With the spirit and wine industries being cornerstones of France's export economy, the government's efforts are critical to maintain market access and protect livelihoods throughout the country. As negotiations continue, stakeholders remain hopeful that their interests will not be sidelined in the broader trade discussions between the US and the EU.