On July 27, 2027, the European Union and the United States signed a trade agreement imposing 15% tariffs on a wide range of products, including cosmetics. While the European Commission welcomes the agreement on the grounds of “more predictability for businesses,” the FEBEA sees it as bad for the French cosmetics industry.
It is a “relief, but it is not a good deal for the French cosmetics industry,” says the FEBEA in a statement.
“French cosmetics, which until now have been exempt from customs duties (0%), will now be taxed at 15% for exports to the United States,” says Emmanuel Guichard, General delegate of the FEBEA. “While this agreement puts an end to uncertainty, it poses a significant threat to the competitiveness of the French cosmetics industry.”
With nearly €3 billion in exports in 2024 (representing 12% of French exports), the United States is the leading export market for French cosmetics.
According to the FEBEA, based on a study by the Asterès consultancy, it is possible to estimate that the agreement could result in an annual loss of €300 million and threaten up to 5,000 jobs in France.
A call to protect the cosmetics industry
“To cushion this shock and avoid a downturn in the context of global trade reconfiguration, the cosmetics industry is calling for the urgent implementation of competitiveness and simplification measures in France and Europe,” adds Emmanuel Guichard.
It should be noted that these measures have already been identified in the Beauty Industry Package, …
