Ladies and Gentlemen of the European Parliament,
We would like to draw your attention, as Departmental Advisors of Charente, to the deleterious effects, for the entire Cognac sector, that the application of the Chinese anti-dumping tax on European brandies would cause.
The Chinese market currently represents 25% of Cognac eaux-de-vie shipments. Such a measure would therefore have the consequence of depriving a large number of companies, particularly small and medium-sized ones, of access to the Chinese market.
In the short term, and in an already highly destabilized local economic context, the entire French wine industry would see its difficulties increase. The 72,000 jobs it represents cannot therefore be sacrificed against a backdrop of trade disagreement between the European Union and China.
Also, considering that October 30, 2024 constitutes the absolute deadline for the definitive imposition of customs duties, we join the French Government’s request to postpone as long as possible the vote to be examined by the European Commission.
This latitude, until the end of the procedure, will allow additional time to negotiate solutions likely to eliminate any surcharge on Cognac products marketed in China and thus to get out of this blocked situation, with compatible measures. with the rules of the World Trade Organization.
We would therefore be very grateful to you for doing everything possible to postpone the date of the vote and for your commitment to solutions which would limit the risks to the economic health of a vital sector for our department of Charente and for France, since Cognac is at the heart of agri-food exports with a positive effect on the trade balance of several billion euros.
Please accept, Ladies and Gentlemen, the expression of our perfect consideration.
The 38 Departmental Councilors of Charente.
