Trump uncorks another tariff threat — 200% on European wine
President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to impose 200% tariffs on all EU wines, including Champagne, and other alcoholic products.
President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 200% tariffs on alcohol coming into the US from Europe in retaliation against tariffs the European Union introduced this week.
In a Truth Social post on Thursday, Trump said he could impose the duty on all wine, including Champagne, and other alcohol from France and other EU countries.
“The European Union, one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the World, which was formed for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the United States, has just put a nasty 50% Tariff on Whisky,” Trump wrote.
The threat of retaliation is the latest escalation in a tit-for-tat exchange between the US and EU over tariffs.
It comes the day after the European Commission announced tariffs on more than $28 billion worth of US goods in response to new American duties on steel and aluminum.
The 200% tariff on booze would come in if these new EU tariffs were not removed “immediately,” he said.
Trump ordered 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports last month, which took effect Wednesday.
The European Commission said the countermeasures matched the scope of US tariffs. US goods affected include boats, bourbon whiskey, and motorbikes.
The commission added that it remained ready to work with the US for a “negotiated solution,” calling the new US tariffs “unjustified.”
On Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the US tariffs were disrupting supply chains, bringing uncertainty to the economy, driving prices up, and putting jobs at stake in Europe and the US.
