PARIS, April 9 (Reuters) - The French wine and spirits

lobby FEVS said on Wednesday that countermeasures announced by

the EU earlier on Wednesday against U.S. tariffs avoided

escalating tensions in its sector, but added that difficulties

remained unresolved with the United States.

FEVS said it was pleased that wine and spirits had been left

off the list of the range of products targeted by EU

countermeasures. EU member states approved the measures in

response to tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump's

administration.