US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 200% tariff on wine, champagne and other alcoholic beverages imported from the EU. The move is in response to an EU tariff on whisky imports from the US.
Trump noted that this threat will remain in place until the EU lifts the 50% tariff on US-produced whiskey. "If this duty is not removed immediately, the US will shortly impose a 200% duty on all wines, champagnes and spirits originating in France and other countries represented in the EU," wrote the US president on Thursday on Truth Social. "This will be great for wine and champagne businesses in the U.S.," He added.
Moments later. in the same place he added: "The globalist Wall Street Journal has no idea what it is doing or saying. They are owned by the polluted mindset of the European Union, which was created primarily for the purpose of 'screwing' the United States of America. Their (WSJ!) thinking is outdated and weak and very bad for the US. But don't worry, we will prevail in everything!!! Egg prices are down, oil is down, interest rates are down, and TARIFF-related money is pouring into the U.S. 'The only thing you have to fear is fear itself!"
European alcohol companies have seen their shares plummet in response to Trump's threat.
Pernod Ricard shares fell 3.2 %, Rémy Cointreau shares fell 3.8 %, while LVMH - which owns Moët & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot - saw its share price fall 1.9 %.
Thursday's development follows the long-awaited reaction of the EU, which just a day earlier reacted to Trump's 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc would impose countermeasures on up to 26 billion euros worth of US goods. "We deeply regret this measure," von der Leyen said in a statement.
"Tariffs are taxes, they are bad for business and even worse for consumers. They disrupt supply chains. They bring uncertainty to the economy," She added.
In a statement on Wednesday, he responded Chris Swonger, CEO of the United States Distilled Spirits Council: "The EU's announcement to reimpose these tariffs on US whiskey of 50 % from 1 April is deeply disappointing and will seriously undermine successful efforts to restore US spirits exports to EU countries."
euronews/ gnews.cz - RoZ
English 
Czech 
Spanish 
French 
Italian 
Russian 
Chinese 
German