Although Washington decided to tax French wine at 25%, orders Beaujolais new, passed across the Atlantic, have remained. Professionals in the sector hope, however, manage to limit the increase in the selling price to maintain this market over time.

He arrived ! As every year, the Beaujolais Nouveau is on sale all over the world, from the third Thursday of November. But this year, the event takes a turn a little particular in the United States with the introduction since October 18, a 25% tax on French wine. Decided by the Trump administration in retaliation for European aid to the aeronautics industry, this tax was fearing a decline in orders placed by US customers. However, they have remained, especially for timing issues.

"We are taking this tax head-on, at a time when orders had already been placed and transport booked." Overall, there were very few orders canceled ", explains Dominique Piron, President of the European Union. inter-profession of Beaujolais.

Limit the impact of the new tax on the customer

A discussion has begun, in order to be able to distribute the new taxation among the various actors of the sector, and thus limit the impact on the sale price to the individual. "The customer will necessarily pay more, a 25% tax on arrival at the port, 25% on the margin of the distributor, and 25% on that of the importer, to which is added the VAT, to the output is 40% more for the customer, "says Dominique Piron. "This 40% will be divided, according to the discussions, between different operators, so as to remain plausible on the market."

For the interprofessional Beaujolais, the United States represent a major outlet, to keep imperatively. "This is a market that we absolutely want to keep.For Beaujolais in general, the United States is our first customer, and the second for Beaujolais Nouveau," recalls Dominique Piron.