Paris, July 30 (UNI) France insists that Washington exempt alcoholic beverages, including champagne and other wines, from duties imposed by US President Donald Trump, the Financial Times newspaper reported, citing a French official.
The EU’s trade deal with the United States reached on Sunday has caused confusion in Brussels and Paris over which goods will be exempt from the 15 per cent tariff applied to most European goods imported by the US, the report said.
However, US officials have reportedly stated that there will be no exemptions for spirits and wines, including champagne, the report noted. The report also recalled that France is the largest exporter of alcohol to countries outside the EU, and almost a third of French alcohol exports go to the United States.
At the same time, French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade Laurent Saint-Martin suggested that the country is close to exempting cognac and other strong alcoholic beverages from US tariffs, the newspaper reported.
“We understand that spirits are indeed exempted,” Saint-Martin was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
The report read that France’s desire to exempt alcoholic beverages from US tariffs was supported by Italy, which is the second largest exporter of alcohol in the EU.
On July 27, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump reached an agreement under which most EU exports to the US will be subject to a 15% tariff. The EU also pledged to buy $750 billion worth of US energy products.
