France
USA trade laneThe United States is one of Cognac's most important export markets, and French spirits more broadly — Armagnac, Calvados, liqueurs, premium gin and vodka — are a steady container trade from the Charente, Gascony and Normandy to US importers. What sets spirits apart from most cargo is value density: a 20ft container of Cognac can be worth more than a container of machinery, it is easy to resell, and it is a known target for cargo thieves on both sides of the Atlantic. The freight on this lane is planned around security first and temperature second.
Our WCA partner agents in France collect from the producer's or warehouse-keeper's bonded premises, close the French excise movement against the export declaration, and load sealed full containers for Le Havre or Fos. AGF books the ocean freight as an FMC-licensed NVOCC, the US entry — customs duty, federal excise and FDA Prior Notice — is filed by our licensed customs brokers for the TTB-permitted importer, and delivery goes to your bonded or licensed warehouse with carriers vetted for high-value loads.
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Shipping Cognac & Spirits from France to USA
Sealed FCL is the default for spirits. The container is loaded at the bonded warehouse, closed with a high-security bolt seal whose number goes on every document, and moved to the port without unattended stops; we avoid LCL for high-value spirits wherever the volume allows, because every extra handling point is an opportunity for loss. Spirits are weight cargo — a 20ft reaches its payload limit before it is full — so most shippers use 20ft containers, or 40ft for lighter mixed loads. Bottled spirits up to 70% alcohol generally ship as general cargo by sea; casks, bulk spirits and very high-strength products can be dangerous goods (UN3065) and are classified per booking, and air freight has its own limits.
From Le Havre, transit is roughly 9-16 days on the water to New York and about 15 days to Savannah; Los Angeles, through the Panama Canal, takes roughly 28-36 days. Spirits tolerate heat far better than wine, but labels, capsules and liqueurs do not, so summer West Coast sailings are worth an insulated or reefer box for premium goods. Demand peaks before the year-end holidays, and many French suppliers close in August.
- Sealed FCL from the bonded warehouse; high-security bolt seal recorded on every document
- No LCL for high-value spirits where volume allows; vetted carriers for US delivery
- Bottled spirits up to 70% alcohol usually general cargo by sea; bulk and high-proof classified per booking
- Full-value cargo insurance arranged before the container leaves the producer
What Drives the Cost
- Federal excise tax per proof gallon — often the largest cost after the product itself
- Security: sealed FCL, routing without unattended stops, and vetted carriers at both ends
- Full-value cargo insurance, which rises with the value of the load
- Customs duty and the EU Section 301 top-up, plus the open tariff questions confirmed at quoting
- Bonded warehouse storage if you defer duty and excise until sale
- Container size and weight — spirits fill a 20ft's payload before its space
HS Codes and Duty Notes
Classification guidance only — duty rates change and depend on your exact product. Our licensed customs brokers verify every code before you commit to an order.
| HS Code | Products | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2208.20 | Cognac, Armagnac and other spirits distilled from grape wine or grape marc | Cognac and other grape brandies from France were added to the Airbus–Boeing dispute tariffs in January 2021 and suspended later that year; the US-side status after July 2026 is unconfirmed, so it is checked at quoting along with the EU top-up. |
| 2208.90 | Other spirits, including Calvados and other fruit brandies | Calvados is an apple brandy and classifies apart from grape brandy; confirm the 10-digit line with our customs brokers. |
| 2208.70 | Liqueurs and cordials | Liqueurs are sensitive to heat; consider temperature-protected routing on summer and West Coast sailings. |
| 2208.50 / 2208.60 | Gin and vodka | Standard spirits lines; federal excise is charged per proof gallon whatever the type. |
Regulations and Compliance
TTB importer's permit and label approval (COLA)
Importing spirits for resale requires a TTB Importer's Basic Permit and a Certificate of Label Approval for each label. Under US labeling rules, Cognac and Armagnac are recognized as distinctive products of France, so only brandy from those regions may carry the names. Since TTB's 2020 rule, 700 ml is an authorized US bottle size for spirits, so a standard European 70 cl bottle no longer needs a separate US production run.
Federal excise tax
Spirits pay federal excise per proof gallon at entry, or on withdrawal if they are entered into a CBP bonded warehouse. Reduced rates apply on a first tranche of volume under the Craft Beverage Modernization Act, and foreign producers can assign them to US importers, who claim them through TTB. Our customs brokers file the excise with the entry; the reduced-rate claim is the importer's.
FDA registration and Prior Notice
Distilleries and bottlers are food facilities and must hold a current FDA registration — the 2026 renewal window runs from 1 October to 31 December — and every shipment needs Prior Notice before arrival. Alcoholic beverages are exempt from the Foreign Supplier Verification Program.
French excise documents
Spirits leave bonded premises in France under an electronic excise document (e-AD, or DAE in France), which must be closed against the export declaration when the goods leave the EU. An unclosed movement can turn into a French excise claim, so our partner agents match the two before the vessel sails.
Tariffs, and what is still open
Since 24 July 2026, most EU goods pay their normal duty topped up to 10% in total under a Section 301 measure. A separate Section 301 investigation into excess capacity, which covers the EU and names food and beverages, is still pending, and French Cognac and grape brandies were among the goods in the Airbus–Boeing dispute tariffs suspended since 2021, whose US-side status after July 2026 we have not been able to confirm. Tariff status is confirmed at quoting.
Door-to-Door Import Service
We start from your TTB permit, approved labels and the producer's ready date. Our partner agents in France collect from the bonded warehouse, check the excise document against the export declaration, and seal the container on loading, with the seal number recorded on the bill of lading and the ISF filed before loading at Le Havre or Fos.
On arrival, our licensed customs brokers file the entry with duty and federal excise, and we move the container to your bonded or licensed warehouse with a carrier vetted for high-value loads, keeping dwell time at the port and on the road as short as the schedule allows.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I import Cognac into the USA?
Is there a tariff on Cognac from France?
How do you protect a container of spirits from theft?
Are bottled spirits dangerous goods for shipping?
Cognac & Spirits is just one example. AGF ships whatever your business moves — on this lane and beyond. If your commodity isn't covered by one of our guides, tell us what you ship and we'll build the logistics around it.
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