France has lengthy been the world’s greatest exporter of cosmetics and private care merchandise, and in 2024 a lot of the exports (40%) went to different European nations, accruing round €10bn, based on the French cosmetics commerce affiliation FEBEA (La Fédération des Entreprises de la Beauté.)
“Our know-how, which can’t be relocated, stays a significant asset,” stated a spokesperson for FEBEA.
“Defending Made in France’s place on this planet requires a concerted, proactive and impressive technique.”
“A commerce battle solely has losers”
The commerce affiliation stated it was disenchanted that the US administration has determined to introduce a further 20% customs obligation on imports of products from the European Union.
“This measure will essentially have an effect on the French cosmetics trade,” it stated, and highlighted that the US accounts for 13% of the sector’s exports and “is thus a significant buying and selling companion for French magnificence firms.”
“Till now, transatlantic relations on this sector have been primarily based on a balanced framework, with no reciprocal customs duties. They’re a part of an extended custom of business cooperation, cross-investment and industrial services on either side of the Atlantic,” continued the spokesperson. “On this respect, the US will stay an essential marketplace for French cosmetics.”
“The commerce battle has solely losers: it penalises American customers, confronted with decreased provide or increased costs, whereas weakening European firms by decreased competitiveness or decrease margins,” continued FEBEA.
The commerce affiliation famous that we “are in all probability originally of a business escalation” however that “it’s important to not reply with a logic of one-upmanship, however to construct a united, calm and proportionate European response,” including {that a} “community-wide response” i wanted from the EU.
“Dangers accentuating aggressive stress on different world markets”
FEBEA additionally famous that different cosmetics exporting nations similar to South Korea, Japan and China are all affected and “this reconfiguration dangers accentuating aggressive stress on different world markets.”
The commerce battle is in the beginning an financial battle: the competitiveness of the European cosmetics trade – and of the French cosmetics trade particularly – is at stake. Our response have to be “industrial in addition to diplomatic, and carried out on the dimensions of the European continent.”
