France: 20% EU-Wide Rate on Wine, Luxury Goods, and More
France, as a member of the European Union, received the EU-wide IEEPA reciprocal tariff rate of 20% effective April 5, 2025. The EU was treated as a single trade bloc under the executive order, with a uniform rate applied to all EU member states.
For U.S. importers of French goods — wines, spirits, luxury fashion, aerospace components, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals — the 20% rate applied across the board during the IEEPA period.
France’s Key Export Categories to the U.S.
France exports a distinctive mix of high-value manufactured and artisanal goods:
- Wine and spirits: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, and Cognac represent major French export categories
- Luxury goods and fashion: High-end apparel, accessories, and leather goods
- Aerospace components: Airbus parts, aircraft engines, and avionics
- Pharmaceuticals: Active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished dosage forms
- Cosmetics and perfumes: French prestige beauty and fragrance brands
- Cheese and specialty food: AOC-certified dairy products and specialty foods
Key Product Categories
Wine (Chapter 22): French wines — Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, and regional AOC wines — are a major U.S. import category. The 20% IEEPA rate significantly impacted wine importers and U.S. distributors of French wine portfolios.
Spirits and Cognac (Chapter 22): Cognac, Armagnac, and French liqueurs. Major French spirits houses export significant volumes to the U.S.
Aerospace Parts (Chapter 88): Airbus components, aircraft engines (CFM56 and LEAP manufactured in France), and avionics imported by U.S. airlines and aerospace manufacturers.
Cosmetics and Fragrance (Chapter 33): Prestige French beauty brands — many headquartered in France — import finished goods and fragrance concentrates into the U.S.
EU Uniform Rate — No Country-Specific Exclusions
The 20% rate was applied uniformly to all EU member states. There are no France-specific exclusions or adjustments. French-origin goods with IEEPA duties assessed between April 5, 2025 and February 20, 2026 are potentially refundable through CAPE.
The United States does not have a free trade agreement with the EU (TTIP negotiations never concluded), so there are no FTA exemption categories to navigate.
Estimating Your France Refund
For a wine importer that brought in $2,000,000 in French wine during the IEEPA window:
- Estimated duty refund: $400,000 (20% × $2,000,000)
- Estimated interest (~5%): $20,000
- Estimated total: $420,000
Use the calculator above to enter your actual import value.