The concern of the cognac sector about the customs duties envisaged by Donald Trump

Already affected by customs duties on the Chinese market, French winegrowers in Cognac fear the policy of the new American president.

The arrival of spring is not enough to make Guillaume Duluc smile. Work in his vines takes an unpleasant turn this year. “We are on a vineyard that I torn off on Fridaytells the cognac producer. The plot was 40 years old, in full capacity to make very good cognacs. Due to the current crisis, I have to tear it away. But in all, on the property, we have planned to tear down three hectares. It is not a pleasure. “

If the United States imposes, from Wednesday 12 March, customs duties on steel and aluminum, while the next step, scheduled for early April, must concern agricultural products. This 25% threat of entry tax is scary the producers of Cognac Charente, who export almost all of their production of this distilled wine.

For Guillaume Duluc, these savings are necessary to keep the six full -time employees on this 200 -hectare operation in Bellevigne. The company having lost almost half of its turnover in three years, it was therefore necessary to act. “Cognac is always anticipating, explains the winegrower. We plant to produce in seven years, we tear today to be sure that our companies can pass the crisis in two or three years. We have experienced crises, but never so brutal and lively. “

Cognac, exported to 97%, loses its two main markets with the United States, which closes due to the policy of Donald Trump, and China, which has applied since October a surcharge in retaliation for the taxation in Europe of Chinese electric vehicles. “The very concrete consequences for the sector, these are very important shipping drops in China and with losses for the entire sector of around 50 million euros per monthexplains Bastien Brusaferro, director of the General Union of winegrowers for the AOC Cognac. So indeed, morale is in the socks. “

Bastien Brusferro therefore calls on the government to get involved quickly. The 4,500 Charentais producers who directly live 15,000 people will not last long. “Anyway, there will be only one thing that will allow us to get out of the situation in which we are today, it is to be able to re-specify our bottles. We will only get out of the taxes in the United States, if there are some tomorrow, and in China as well. It is the history of cognac. The cognac is a product that is made to be exported and it will only be done by the export of the different markets.”

At the Agricultural Show, François Bayrou has promised to go to China when the conditions for negotiation will be met, but since then, no date has been advanced.