U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to the European Union, threatening to impose a 200% tariff on all wines, champagnes, and alcoholic beverages imported from France and other EU member states.
Speaking on Thursday, Trump described EU trade policies as “one of the most hostile and abusive forms of taxation and tariffs in the world,” justifying his proposed countermeasure as a response to the EU’s plan to introduce a 50% tariff on American whiskey, The Guardian reported.
Trump also claimed that such retaliatory tariffs would be “wonderful for U.S. wine and champagne businesses.”
The European Union had announced its countermeasures against U.S. tariffs on Wednesday, confirming that they would take effect on April 1. The EU’s retaliatory measures are expected to be worth approximately €26 billion.
This latest escalation signals growing tensions in transatlantic trade relations, with both sides preparing for a potential trade war that could significantly impact global markets.
