Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first French tour in five years has ignited discussions surrounding the future of trade relations between the two nations, particularly in light of stricter Chinese rules on French cosmetic products like lipstick and fragrances.

French beauty businesses hope ongoing talks between Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Macron will alleviate Chinese import regulations regarding the exchange of formulas and manufacturing knowledge.

Before this week’s meetings, President Macron indicated that cosmetics would be a talking point of “great attention” as French leadership aims to “find a solution that also protects the interests of our companies.”

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