- President Donald Trump threatened 200% tariffs on European wine and other alcohol on Thursday.
- He threatened the new alcohol tariffs in retaliation to EU tariffs on US goods announced Wednesday.
- In a Truth Social post, Trump said the EU was formed “for the sole purpose of taking advantage” of the US.
President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 200% tariffs on alcohol coming into the US from Europe in retaliation against fresh tariffs imposed by the EU this week.
In a Thursday Truth Social post, Trump said he could impose the duty on all wine, 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 on Wednesday.
The European Commission said the countermeasures match the scope of US tariffs. US goods affected include boats, Bourbon whiskey, and motorbikes.
The commission added that it remains 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 are disrupting supply chains, bringing uncertainty to the economy, driving prices up, and putting jobs at stake in Europe and the US.
