The wine industry is relying heavily on the election of Joe Biden, hoping that the new American president will cancel the wine surcharges decided by Donald Trump in the fall of 2020. On Sunday, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs suggested a moratorium pending that 'a final agreement is adopted.

In his Bordeaux vineyard, the owner of Château Lamothe savored every moment of Joe Bien's investiture.

The election of the Democrat is synonymous with hope for this winegrower hit hard by the Trump surcharge of 25% on French wines.

The American market represents 40% of its turnover.

“The immediate effect was a drop in orders. But here we are hopeful that these taxes will be dropped. Customers are all telling us to be patient, that it will not happen overnight. ", he explains at the microphone of Europe 1. 

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In the fall of 2020, against the backdrop of a dispute over the subsidies granted to Airbus and Boeing, the former president had subjected French wines to increased customs duties.

"Now, the urgency is obviously the negotiations between Europe and the United States", estimates Bernard Farge, wine grower in the small village of Mauriac and president of the Professional Council of the wines of Bordeaux.

Dropping these taxes is not Joe Biden's priority, however.

Le Drian wants a "moratorium" on the commercial standoff

The French Minister of Foreign Affairs therefore suggested Sunday a "moratorium" on the commercial standoff between the United States and the European Union, believing that it would allow to settle a "file which poisons everyone".

"If we could quickly find a method that would allow this dispute with Europe and France to be settled, that would be a step forward. It may take time but, in the meantime, we can always decree moratoriums," he said. -he adds. 

"While waiting for the negotiations to be successful, this moratorium would be synonymous with an end to the taxes in place on European and French wines in the United States and the end of taxes on American products on European soil", hopes for his part Bernard Farge.

For Bordeaux wines alone, this punishment inflicted by Donald Trump resulted in 100 million lost sales.