Trump threatens 200% tariff on French wine, other EU alcohol products
President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to impose a 200% tariff on alcohol products from France and other European countries.
The tariff threat comes after the European Union plans to move ahead with a planned tariff on American whiskey.
“If this Tariff is not removed immediately, the U.S. will shortly place a 200% Tariff on all WINES, CHAMPAGNES, & ALCOHOLIC PRODUCTS COMING OUT OF FRANCE AND OTHER E.U. REPRESENTED COUNTRIES. This will be great for the Wine and Champagne businesses in the U.S.” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
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The president’s threat comes after the European Commission on Wednesday said it will impose counter tariffs on 26 billion euros ($28 billion) worth of U.S. goods exports in response to Trump’s 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.
The countermeasures we take today are strong but proportionate,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement. “Our countermeasures will be introduced in two steps. Starting with 1 April and fully in place as of 13 April. In the meantime, we will always remain open to negotiation.”
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EU wine exports to the United States were worth 4.9 billion euros last year, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat. That was 29% of EU’s overall exports of wine. Of the EU exports to the United States, France made up almost half and Italy almost 40%.
Reuters contributed to this report.
