France and China are negotiating the removal of tariffs on European brandy imports, specifically Cognac and Armagnac, imposed by China in response to European threats of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. French lobby groups are urging the French government to resolve the issue politically and are encouraged by the ongoing discussions. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has proposed replacing the security deposit imposed on importers of EU brandies with a less complex bank guarantee, viewed as a positive step by the lobby groups.