PRESS RELEASE
12.11.2024
The Cognac and Armagnac sectors meet the french president to discuss chinese antidumping taxes
Representatives of the Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC), the Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac (BNIA), the Fédération des Exportateurs de Vins et Spiritueux (FEVS), the Maison des Vins et Spiritueux (MVS) and the three groups sampled in the proceedings were received today by the French President to discuss the anti-dumping investigation targeting Cognac and Armagnac, launched on January 5th by the Chinese authorities.
Since January 5th, the entire industry has been fully mobilized to warn that the Chinese investigation is not a legal problem but a political one, to which only a political response can be found.
Despite numerous approaches and high-level exchanges, this political settlement has not yet been reached. China has announced a first step (the bond) towards the actual imposition of taxes, confirming the major economic risk incurred by the Cognac and Armagnac sectors and their ecosystems, and further raising the level of concern and incomprehension in the regions concerned. This despite the fact that all the players involved cooperated fully in the investigation.
In recent weeks, however, positive developments have been noted at several meetings at government level. The recent exchanges between the French and Chinese authorities at the Shanghai Fair have helped to renew the thread of dialogue, an essential prelude to the emergence of a bilateral solution. In this respect, yesterday’s announcement by MOFCOM that the security deposit imposed on Cognac and Armagnac importers since 11 October could be replaced by a less complex bank guarantee can be seen as a positive initial reaction.
Industry representatives told the French President that it was absolutely essential to confirm this dynamic of openness in order to obtain from the Chinese authorities a lifting of the taxes, the application of which would otherwise have a destructive effect.
The President of the Republic assured the industry of his full support in this difficult and unfair situation, and of his commitment to become personally involved in finding a positive outcome.
The participants in the meeting were delighted with the quality of the discussions and the strong commitments made by the President of the Republic, and remain fully mobilized until the matter is resolved.
