France to spend €70M on fuel subsidies for farmers, trucks and fishermen in April

PARIS — The French government will spend €70 million to subsidize the price of fuel for farmers, logistics companies and fishermen from April 1 until the end of the month.

“We have built a response at the national level which is gradual, targeted, sector-specific and limited to the month of April,” Economy and Finance Minister Roland Lescure told reporters Friday evening, presenting the plan amid spiking energy prices caused by war in the Middle East.

“My primary concern is, above all, to sustain growth while ensuring that every euro of public money is spent effectively,” said Lescure.

France will suspend all excise taxes on non-road diesel for farmers, which currently costs them €3.86 per hecto-liter. That measure that will cost around €14 million.

The government will also spend €50 million to subsidize €0.20 per liter for trucks operated by small logistics companies most affected by high prices, while fishing boats will also benefit from a reimbursement of €0.20 per liter for a total cost of €5 million.

In a bid to further support farmers, Agriculture Minister Annie Génévard said that she will again call for suspending the carbon border adjustment mechanism for fertilizers during a meeting of EU agriculture ministers next Monday.

Lescure insisted the current crisis is not comparable to the one in 2022 and that the government will not have to update the budget law for 2026 as the funds for these measures will come from the existing budget envelopes of ministries.