French winemakers fret Trump tariffs will hurt sales in key U.S. market | ABS-CBN News

French wine and spirits producers are bracing for a 15% tariff on exports to the key U.S. market, even as the European Commission pledges to keep pressing for a preferential rate for the sector.
    After months of negotiations, an EU-U.S. trade deal announced on Thursday (August 21) did not spare wines and spirits from the 15% rate applied to most European exports.
    “This is a major source of concern for our emblematic sectors,” said French agriculture minister Annie Genevard in a post on X, referring to the outcome of talks between the EU and United States on agriculture products and citing the lack of exemption for wines and spirits.
    The U.S. is the biggest market for champagne with 10% of champagne exports by volume and 15% by value and producers have said the new taxes will push up prices for consumers, threatening jobs throughout the supply chain, including in the United States.
    For Frederic Zeimett, CEO of champagne label Leclerc Briant, the U.S. market is “enormous” for the industry — and the tariffs come at a time when few other markets are in a position to quickly pick up the slack from any weakness in sales there.
    “It’s a very important, rich market that is growing, with people who love the French art de vivre,” said Zeimett.
    The executive said he would seek to preserve sales in the United States, “even if it means making a bit of an effort when it comes to the price of our bottles,” noting the tariffs come as the sector is already grappling with a weaker dollar compared to the euro.
    Zeimett estimates the average bottle of his label’s Champagne could increase by around $20 for U.S. shoppers, bringing them to around $70 euros.
(Production: Manuel Ausloos)

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