EU-US tariff truce raises stakes for French cosmetics exports

Under the EU‑US commercial agreement, a temporary tariff truce is set to ease transatlantic trade, but new U.S. duties on French cosmetics have sharply reduced export volumes. After a historic 0 % duty rate that lasted until 2024, the United States imposed a 15 % tariff in summer 2025, lowering it to 10 % in February 2026. French cosmetics sales to the U.S., the sector’s largest market, fell 19 % in 2025 and slipped another 20 % in the first quarter of 2026, amounting to an estimated €800 million loss—about €541 million in 2025 plus €250 million in the first half of 2026. The French cosmetics federation (FEBEA) urges French and EU officials to restore a 0 % duty rate, warning that the sector cannot sustain a lasting tariff increase.

Analysts note that the broader EU‑US truce also affects automotive, aerospace and other manufacturing sectors, with companies awaiting clearer rules of origin and monitoring mechanisms to ensure stability beyond 2026.