France Urges Trump to Give Its Wines and Spirits the Same Tariff Break as Irish Whiskey

France is urging the United States to exempt its wines and spirits, including Champagne, from tariffs after Washington moved to grant relief to Irish whiskey.

French minister Nicolas Forissier made the request ahead of an informal meeting of European Union trade ministers in Dublin. According to MLex, Forissier said he had recently raised the issue directly with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

France argues that its alcohol exports should receive treatment comparable to Irish whiskey, rather than face a less favorable tariff regime. U.S. President Donald Trump removed tariffs from Irish whiskey in September. The request covers a broad range of French products, including wine, spirits and Champagne.

The report did not specify the full scope of the U.S. tariffs at issue or indicate whether Washington had responded to France’s request.

France Seeks Tariff Parity for Wine and Spirits

The appeal highlights how tariff decisions can affect competition among imported drinks in the U.S. market. Duties increase the cost of bringing products into the country, potentially affecting prices, importer margins and the ability of foreign brands to compete with domestic alternatives.

An exemption for French alcohol could affect pricing across wine, sparkling wine and spirits. Importers, distributors and retailers may adjust their sourcing and pricing strategies as tariff costs change, potentially shifting the competitive balance among suppliers.

Champagne is a particularly prominent part of France’s request. By including the sparkling wine category alongside still wines and spirits, France is seeking relief for a wide range of its alcohol exports rather than a single product category.

France’s argument rests on the idea that if Washington is willing to ease tariff pressure on Irish whiskey, it should consider similar treatment for French drinks.

The request also comes as European governments monitor the effects of U.S. trade policy on exporters. For French producers, access to the American market matters because tariffs can influence the final cost of their products and their competitiveness against other imported and domestic brands.

It remains unclear whether the United States will extend an exemption to French wines and spirits or whether other EU member states will formally support France’s request. For now, Paris is pressing Washington to avoid giving one European alcohol category a trade advantage over another.