France is pushing for champagne and other wines and spirits to be exempt from US tariffs as European officials seek to extract more carve-outs in a trade deal with Washington expected to enter into force on Friday.
An agreement reached by the EU with US President Donald Trump on Sunday has created confusion in Brussels and Paris over which products will be excluded from a new 15 per cent tariff applying to most European goods imported by the US.
EU officials insist that talks with Washington are continuing, including on alcoholic beverages. But US officials have said that there will be no carve-outs for spirits and wines, including champagne.