The Federation of Beauty Companies (FEBEA) has published the results of a study conducted by Astéres on the impact of new US tariffs. According to this analysis, the trade war between the United States and the European Union poses a direct threat to the competitiveness and employment of the French cosmetics sector.
According to the report, French cosmetics exports to the United States could fall by 21%, representing an estimated loss of €620 million in revenue. The US market, the leading outlet outside Europe for companies in the sector, is directly affected by the increase in customs duties and the 4% depreciation of the dollar since the beginning of the year.
This decline is accompanied by a significant social impact, with 10,900 jobs at risk, including 2,700 jobs within exporting companies and 8,200 jobs in the value chain.
According to the FEBEA, the first signs of a slowdown are already being felt: in the first half of 2025, French cosmetics exports fell by 12.7%, a trend partly linked to the advance stockpiling carried out by large groups at the end of 2024.
The organization fears a multiplier effect on employment, pointing out that one direct job in the sector generates an average of three indirect jobs.
“This study demonstrates the scale of the risks that the trade war poses to our sector: more than €600 million in exports and nearly 11,000 French jobs are directly threatened. Faced with this shock, we cannot remain spectators,” says Emmanuel Guichard, General Delegate of …
