In the face of widespread disappointment from the French wine industry, France’s Minister for Trade, Laurent Saint-Martin, has vowed to continue fighting for exemptions within the new US-EU trade deal. Acknowledging the sector’s frustration, Saint-Martin took to social media to insist that “the story isn’t over,” suggesting that further negotiations are possible.
The current framework leaves French wine and spirits subject to a 15% US tariff, a major blow to an industry that counts the United States as its top export market. The minister’s comments are an attempt to manage the fallout from the deal, which failed to secure the tariff-free access the industry had hoped for. “The agreement leaves open the possibility for additional exemptions and we’ll be working on them,” he wrote.
However, Saint-Martin was also realistic about the challenge ahead, cautioning that a resolution would not be immediate or easy. “I’m not saying it will be easy or that it’ll happen next week,” he added, while reaffirming that defending French exports remains a top government priority. His statement positions the current deal as a starting point rather than a final conclusion.
This stance provides a sliver of hope for vintners and distillers who felt left behind in a deal heavily focused on the automotive sector. The industry, which exported €8 billion of alcohol to the US last year, will be closely watching whether the minister’s promises translate into concrete action and tangible relief from the costly tariffs.
