French exports of wine and spirits fell last year, according to figures released on Tuesday, initially affected by trade disputes with China and now preparing for possible US tariffs.

Overseas sales of wine, champagne, cognac and other French alcoholic beverages will reach €15.6 billion in 2024, down 4% on the previous year, according to data from the Federation of Exports of Wine and Spirits (FEVS). Export volumes fell by 0.1%

This decline is due to &bquo;ongoing economic and geopolitical tensions“, the federation said in a statement.

French alcohol sales to the United States, its main foreign market, rose 5 percent last year.

But in China, the sector's third-largest market, sales fell 20.2 percent as China's economic slowdown affected the industry, the FEVS said.

The federation also cited China's tariffs on EU brandy, which were imposed by Beijing after the European Union imposed duties on Chinese electric cars amid allegations of unfair competition.

Cognac exports fell by 10.9%, Armagnac by 15.4%.

FEVS President Gabriel Picard‘said that EU and French leaders „must immediately resolve the dispute that has been affecting cognac and Armagnac for more than a year, otherwise it will have a serious impact on all parts of the supply chain and beyond“.

He called on Prime Minister Francois Bayrou to go to China to clarify relations there.

„This is really extremely urgent“, – stressed Mr Picard‘in his speech at the wine exhibition in Paris.

French wine and spirits exporters, like other EU businesses, are worried about US President Donald Trump's threats to impose tariffs on the 27-nation bloc.

„Aside from global economic instability, geopolitical uncertainty also remains high, whether it concerns China or the United States,“ said Mr Picard's.

„We expect French and European leaders to speak with restraint, measured but effective and targeted, which has not always been the case,– he added.