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Trump threatens 200% tariff on European alcohol as trade war escalates

  • CNN
  • March 13, 2025
CNN

 — 

President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to impose a massive tariff on European alcohol in response to the European Union's retaliation against his steel and aluminum tariffs, a tit-for-tat escalation of a trade war that could easily get out of hand.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said his administration would impose a 200% tariff on alcoholic beverages from the EU unless it rescinds the 50% tariff the European government imposed Wednesday on US whiskey.

"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," Trump said. "This will be great for the Wine and Champagne businesses in the U.S."

Trump said Wednesday in the Oval Office that he would respond to the EU's retaliatory tariffs.

"Of course I will respond," Trump said.

On Thursday, 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."

He called the retaliatory tariff it imposed on US bourbon "nasty."

This is a developing story and will be updated.