As for the system applicable to the traditional rum of her overseas departments, France argues that the production of rum has, thanks to this measure in particular, safeguarded the situation and also contributed to maintaining the cane-sugar-rum trade, the importance of which in economic and social terms in the overseas departments makes the measure indispensable.
En ce qui concerne le régime applicable au rhum traditionnel des DOM, la France fait valoir que la production du rhum a, grâce notamment à cette mesure, sauvegardé sa situation et, au-delà, contribué au maintien de la filière canne-sucre-rhum, dont l'importance économique et sociale majeure dans les DOM rend incontournable la mesure.