US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 200% tariff on European alcohol.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 200% tariff on European wine, champagne and spirits if the EU goes forward with a planned tariff on American whiskey.
It comes after the bloc said it would implement a 50% duty on some American goods, as part of a counter-measure to a 25% tariff set by the US on global steel and aluminium imports.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump called the EU “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."
“If this Tariff is not removed immediately, the US will shortly place a 200% Tariff on all WINES, CHAMPAGNES, & ALCOHOLIC PRODUCTS COMING OUT OF FRANCE AND OTHER EU REPRESENTED COUNTRIES."
"This will be great for the Wine and Champagne businesses in the US,” Trump added.
After Trump’s tariffs on aluminium and steel went into effect at midnight Wednesday morning, the EU immediately responded to what it called “unjustified” trade action.
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The EU’s countermeasures included tariffs on €26 billion ($28 billion) worth of American goods, including tariffs on boats, bourbon and motorbikes.
The 50% tariff is due to come into effect on April 1.
In a statement, the EU described the measures as “swift and proportionate."
America’s spirits industry said Wednesday it was bracing for pain from the retaliatory tariffs.
The EU’s 50% tariffs on American spirits are “deeply disappointing and will severely undercut the successful efforts to rebuild US spirits exports in EU countries,” Chris Swonger, CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), said in a statement released Wednesday.
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