France seeks exemption for wines and spirits from new US tariffs after EU and US reach customs agreement

French officials are pressing for wines and spirits to be exempt from new U.S. tariffs, following the announcement of a broad customs agreement between the European Union and the United States. The negotiations, which began after an initial deal was reached on Sunday, were discussed at a closed-door meeting in Paris attended by members of the French government, business leaders, and representatives from affected economic sectors.

France’s Minister of Economy, Eric Lombard, said after the two-and-a-half-hour meeting that talks with the United States are only just beginning. He expressed relief that a trade escalation had been avoided but acknowledged disappointment that the agreement set tariffs at 15 percent. The new customs deal imposes a general 15 percent tariff on European goods entering the U.S., with some exceptions, notably for the aerospace sector.

Laurent Saint-Martin, France’s Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, stated that France is actively advocating for wines and spirits to be included among the exempted products. He also called for a broader discussion on trade imbalances, suggesting that services should be part of future negotiations. This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has justified his administration’s trade measures by citing a goods trade deficit with the EU.

Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard said after the meeting that while there is a strong possibility of a zero-tariff agreement for spirits, the situation for wines remains uncertain. The Federation of Wine and Spirits Exporters (FEVS) welcomed the government’s prioritization of their sector and reiterated calls for exemption from additional tariffs.

Other industries voiced concerns about the impact of the new tariffs. Emmanuel Guichard, director general of the beauty industry federation FEBEA, warned that a 15 percent tariff could result in losses of 300 million euros and threaten 5,000 jobs in cosmetics and related sectors. The National Association of Food Industries (Ania) estimated that the cost to their sector could exceed half a billion euros, while government estimates put the figure at 800 million euros.

The meeting included representatives from major business organizations such as Medef, CPME, U2P, France Industrie, and others from banking, retail, and insurance sectors. Patrick Martin, head of Medef, expressed disappointment with the agreement and said he did not expect financial support for most sectors except possibly wine if tariffs are imposed.

Dominique Chargé, vice president of CPME, said after the meeting that while some clarifications were provided, many uncertainties remain. The agricultural cooperative group also criticized what it described as vague terms in the agreement.

President Emmanuel Macron told his cabinet that he regretted the EU was not “feared enough” during negotiations led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. He emphasized that France would continue to demand strict terms in ongoing discussions.

Some lawmakers criticized the government’s response to industry concerns. Socialist deputy Philippe Brun questioned whether setting up an informational website was an adequate answer to what he described as threats to entire sectors of the French economy.

The next steps include relaying industry concerns to the European Commission next week as negotiations with Washington continue. For now, many French exporters remain uncertain about how their products will be treated under the new tariff regime.