Donald Trump was elected President of the United States this Wednesday, November 6. For farmers in Gard, this brings back bad memories.
The officialization of the election of Republican Donald Trump this Wednesday, November 6, late in the morning, as President of the United States, brought back bad memories for Gard farmers and more particularly for wine growers. President of the IGP du Gard Wine Federation, Denis Verdier does not beat around the bush: “He had increased taxes by 25% which had weakened exports. His election is a disaster. We have a hangover!”
On October 18, 2019, Donald Trump, who wanted to sanction European aid to Airbus to the detriment of Boeing, imposed this 25% surcharge on still wines and spirits, which led to a sharp drop in exports.
A new 10% tax?
Once installed again in the White House in January 2025, he could do it again. “In his current program on economic issues, he wants to put a 10% tax on all imported products”recalls Denis Verdier.
The president of the Costières de Nîmes winegrowers’ union, Cyril Marès, confides for his part “a certain apprehension after his election because the United States is a big market. This represents 15% of our exports. We have reached a certain ceiling. The fact of having applied a surtax on wines concerns those from France and those from abroad too. These taxes will reduce volumes, for us, this is not a good sign, it can be a big loss even if such taxes will have an impact. We’ll have to fight twice as hard!”
Cyril Marès believes that to anticipate the problems linked to Donald Trump's future decisions, it is appropriate to highlight wines more: “We need to come to an agreement among ourselves, bring together representatives of vineyards from all regions to ensure we are under the same banner.”
Export to develop
The wine sector, already weakened by the drop in consumption in France and by competition from neighboring European countries which do not apply the same prices and are less meticulous about regulations, does not need further blows. Links with the United States remain strong with grape varieties from our region which appeal to the American market, just like the IGP vins du Gard and the IGP Cévennes: “In the cellars, this election worries us”don’t hide Denis Verdier.
Already affected by China's customs duties on Cognac, French viticulture is looking to the American side with feverishness. “Trump's policy will affect all European products. We will alert the Prime Minister but also the Presidency of the Republic. We will resist, fight because the American market is important for Gard viticulture. We must develop all the more exports as wine consumption in France declines”underlines the president of the IGP du Gard wine federation.
In Occitania, the United States is the seventh exporting country of crop and livestock products, knowing that Gard is considered the third department in the region for wine production. The impact of an American surcharge would therefore not be negligible.
Nîmes once again attracts American tourists
On the Nîmes side, the deputy delegate for tourism Xavier Douais does not see American tourist numbers changing after the election of Donald Trump: “I don’t believe in the establishment of tourist protectionism. It was the Covid crisis that prevented Americans from coming. They are back, interested in our heritage and our gastronomy.”
In 2024, American customers represented more than 77,000 nights in Nîmes, an increase of 5.5% compared to the previous year. It constitutes the second foreign clientele in the city center. This American market, Nîmes continues to seduce it. Thus, from November 12 to 14, a delegation from Nîmes will be in Boston for a workshop. 40 tour operators have already made an appointment with representatives from Nîmes.
