U.S. President Donald Trump threatens 200% tariff on wine, champagne from France, different EU international locations

Bottles of Chianti wine are displayed on the Vinitaly exposition in Verona. U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose 200% tariffs on wine, champagne and different alcoholic merchandise from France and different European Union international locations in retaliation in opposition to the bloc’s deliberate levies on US-produced whiskey.
| Picture Credit score: AFP

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday (March 13, 2025) threatened to impose 200% tariffs on wine, champagne and different alcoholic merchandise from France and different European Union international locations in retaliation in opposition to the bloc’s deliberate levies on U.S.-produced whiskey.

“If this Tariff just isn’t eliminated instantly, 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,” he posted on his Reality Social platform.

Mr. Trump has launched commerce wars in opposition to rivals and companions alike since taking workplace, wielding tariffs as a device to strain international locations on commerce and different coverage points.

On Wednesday (March 12, 2025), the European Union unveiled tariffs countering U.S. strikes on metal and aluminum, hitting some $28 billion of US items in phases from April.

Mr. Trump on Thursday (March 13, 2025) renewed his criticism of the bloc, singling out a 50-percent levy on US whiskey as being “nasty.”

He termed the EU “some of the hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities within the World” and mentioned it “was fashioned for the only real goal of making the most of america.”

Uncertainty over Trump’s commerce plans and worries that they may set off a recession have roiled monetary markets. However US shares regained some floor Wednesday whilst some Asia markets retreated.

US distillers have known as the EU’s levy on American whiskey “deeply disappointing.”

“Reimposing these debilitating tariffs at a time when the spirits business continues to face a slowdown in US market will additional curtail progress and negatively influence distillers and farmers in states throughout the nation,” mentioned Distilled Spirits Council head Chris Swonger in an announcement on Wednesday.

A 2018 imposition of comparable tariffs led to a 20-percent drop in American whiskey exports to the European Union.

The lifting of that measure in 2021 noticed US whiskey exports surge by almost 60 %, business information confirmed.

It was not instantly clear what authorized justification Trump would depend on to hike tariffs on European alcohol.

Trump’s tariff wars have taken purpose at Canada, Mexico and China over allegations they don’t seem to be doing sufficient to curtail fentanyl smuggling or unlawful immigration into america.

He has additionally taken purpose at particular commodities, together with metal, aluminum and copper.

Some international locations, very similar to the EU, have imposed retaliatory tariffs on america in response to Trump’s strikes to deal with what he phrases unfair commerce imbalances.

China has vowed “all essential measures” in response to US measures, and has already imposed duties of 10-percent and 15-percent focusing on US agriculture merchandise starting from soybeans to hen.

European Fee chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday maintained that the EU’s retaliation, affecting merchandise starting from bourbon to motorbikes, was “sturdy however proportionate.”