The French delegation of the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament on Wednesday 23 October asked the European Commission to take exceptional measures in favour of French winemakers affected by US sanctions against certain EU agricultural exports, in the context of the Airbus case (see EUROPE 12352/16).
Several Agriculture Ministers have called for support because of these sanctions (see EUROPE 12349/15).
In a letter to Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan, under MEP Irene Tolleret’s initiative, the French delegation of the Renew Europe group asks the Commission to take "rapid and exceptional measures", as provided for in the regulation on the common market organisation (CMO). The delegation also asks to authorize France to "be able to redirect promotional actions carried out in the United States to other markets".
The sanctions result in the cancellation of orders, particularly for ‘Beaujolais nouveau’. Since 18 October, a new 25% customs duty has been introduced on many EU agricultural products, including French wine exports, worth 1 billion euros annually. France is, after the United Kingdom, the second country affected by the American sanctions. 60% of these sanctions concern the agri-food sector.
Renew Europe MEPs are in favour of a negotiated solution with the United States, but believe that the EU should consider, if necessary, "increasing its own tariffs in the Boeing case". (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)