U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a fiery message to the world as his ongoing trade war reaches new heights.
This latest outburst isn’t related to his warnings to Russia’s Vladimir Putin or his tense exchanges with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Instead, it stems from a series of aggressive tariff hikes that have sparked international backlash.
After initially threatening to impose a 50% tariff on Canadian metal imports—before backing down in response to Canadian retaliation—Trump has still moved forward with a 25% tariff on all goods from Canada and Mexico. In addition, he has raised tariffs on all Chinese goods and maintained the 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports from all countries.
Now, Trump has set his sights on the European Union, threatening to impose a staggering 200% tariff on wines, champagnes, and other alcoholic beverages imported from EU countries.
The move comes in response to the EU’s decision to implement a 50% import duty on American whiskey, a measure Trump has branded as an unfair attack on U.S. exports. The escalating tensions between the U.S. and its longstanding trade partners have prompted Trump to lash out at the EU, which he accuses of exploiting the American economy.
Taking to his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote: “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.”
He then issued a stark ultimatum, adding: “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.”
Later that same morning, Trump expanded his message to the global stage, venting his frustration in another Truth Social post: “The US doesn’t have Free Trade. We have ‘Stupid Trade’. The Entire World is RIPPING US OFF!!!”
A 200% tariff on EU alcohol imports would be a major blow to European producers, given the high demand for their wines and spirits in the U.S. According to United Nations trade data, French wines and spirits, along with Italian wines, were among the top agricultural imports to the U.S. in 2023.
In response, an EU spokesperson expressed deep disappointment over Trump’s latest statements. Speaking to the BBC, they stated: “The European Union regrets and is very disappointed by this latest statement by the US president. We believe that these types of tariffs are unjustified, unfair, and counterproductive.”
The spokesperson also confirmed that EU representatives plan to discuss the matter with U.S. officials today, hoping to prevent further escalation in an already volatile trade landscape.
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