Trump, EU locks in tariff battle in American whiskey, European wine – National
Donald Trump threatened 200% tariffs on European wine, champagne and spirits on Thursday if the EU plans to impose tariffs on U.S. whiskey.
It is expected to take effect on April 1, and the tariff is announced by the U.S. government, which has responded to steel and aluminum tariffs.
But if the EU pushes plans to 50% tariffs on U.S. whiskey, Trump vows in his morning social media post to escalate in the trade war.
“If this tariff is not immediately removed, the United States will soon impose a 200% tariff on all wines, champagne and alcohol products in France and other EU countries,” Trump wrote. “This is very useful for wine and champagne businesses in the United States.”
The Republican president said on Wednesday that he intends to take action.
“Of course I will respond,” Trump told reporters during an Oval Office talk with reporters.
Trump publicly challenged U.S. allies as he announced new steel and aluminum tariffs on Wednesday and vowed to regain the “stolen” wealth of other countries and quickly retaliate.
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He has separate tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China and plans to charge “reciprocal” rates starting April 2, taxing from the EU, Brazil and South Korea.
The EU announced its own countermeasures. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that as the United States is “applying for tariffs worth $28 billion, we are responding with a response worth $26 billion”, about $28 billion.
These measures cover not only steel and aluminum products, but also textiles, household appliances and agricultural supplies.
European Commission spokesman Olof Gill announced on Thursday in Trump that “we have been preparing for everything that may happen for over a year.”
“We call on the United States to immediately remove the tariffs imposed yesterday and we want to negotiate to avoid future tariffs,” Jill added. “They only bring about failed results, we only bring about win-win results.”
Meanwhile, U.S. bourbon maker urged Trump to retreat from the trade war.
“Since 1997, the U.S. EU spirit industry has been a role model for fair and mutual trade with zero tariffs,” Chris Swonger, chairman and CEO of the Distillation Spirit Committee, said in a statement. “We urge President Trump to reach a spirits agreement with the EU to bring us back to zero tariffs, which will create our jobs and increase manufacturing and exports to the U.S. hospitality industry. We want to toast instead of tariffs.”
– AP writer Lorne Cook in Brussels, Mike Warren contributed the report.
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
