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French wine and cheese makers say U.S. tariffs would hit hard
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on July 13, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on July 13, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
French wine and cheese producers warn that U.S. tariffs could severely impact exports, risking millions in sales. EU seeks negotiation.
By Gus Trompiz and Ardee Napolitano
PARIS, July 13 (Reuters)
French cheese and wine producers have warned of the damaging impact that U.S. President Donald Trump's threatened 30% tariffs on imports from the EU would have on the country's agriculture industry.
A 30% duty would be "disastrous" for France's food industry, said Jean-François Loiseau, president of food lobby group ANIA, while Francois Xavier Huard, CEO of dairy association FNIL, said: "It's a real shock for milk and cheese producers - this is an important market for us".
"It's a new environment we will have to get used to - I don't think this is temporary," Huard told Reuters on Sunday, referring to shifting rules and flaring trade tensions.
He noted the industry may have to rethink its strategy relating to the markets in which it operates.
France's dairy sector exports nearly half of its production, including to the United States, which imports mostly cheeses such as Brie but also fresh products like yogurt and butter.
It risks losing annual sales worth hundreds of millions of euros, said Huard, noting the sector sells 350 million euros ($409 million) worth of dairy products to the U.S. annually.
French food exporters are worried that additional import taxes could push up prices of their products beyond the reach of inflation-strapped shoppers in the United States.
"Products like wine, especially, are consumed for pleasure -if you have less money to spend, you might forgo the purchase," said Yannick Fialip, head of association CNPA, which promotes French food exports.
"We will be less competitive," Fialip added, noting a weaker dollar had already added pressure on exports to the U.S.
The European Union said on Sunday it prefers a negotiated solution on trade with the United States, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saying the bloc would extend its suspension of countermeasures to U.S. tariffs until early August.
($1 = 0.8555 euros)
(Reporting by Gus Trompiz and Ardee Napolitano; Writing by Mimosa Spencer; Editing by David Holmes)
French cheese producers warn that a 30% tariff could be disastrous for the food industry, risking annual sales worth hundreds of millions of euros.
France's dairy sector sells approximately 350 million euros ($409 million) worth of dairy products to the U.S. each year.
The European Union prefers a negotiated solution on trade with the United States, as stated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Producers believe that higher prices due to tariffs could lead consumers in the U.S. to forgo purchases of products like wine, which are often seen as luxury items.
The French dairy sector is under pressure from a weaker dollar and may need to rethink its market strategies due to the potential tariffs and changing trade dynamics.
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