“Defending Our Exports”: France’s Vow to Renegotiate Parts of US Pact

The French government is signaling its intent to renegotiate aspects of the US-EU trade pact, specifically to aid its beleaguered wine and spirits industry. France’s Minister for Trade, Laurent Saint-Martin, has publicly vowed that “defending our exports remains our priority,” suggesting that Paris does not view the current framework as the final word.
Writing on social media, Saint-Martin pointed out that the agreement “leaves open the possibility for additional exemptions,” a clause he intends to leverage. “The story isn’t over,” he declared, in a clear message to a domestic audience that the government has not given up the fight for one of its most iconic export sectors.
This public posture is a direct response to the “huge disappointment” expressed by the French wine federation. The industry feels that the EU, in its rush to solve the German auto tariff issue, ignored the needs of French producers who now face a 15% US tariff with no relief in sight.
France’s stance could introduce a new phase of negotiations, or at least attempt to. While the main framework is in place, Paris will now lobby both Brussels and Washington for sector-specific carve-outs. This effort, which the minister admits “won’t be easy,” could test the stability of the broader agreement and the unity of the EU’s trade policy.