Trump threatens 200% tariff on European alcohol

American President Trump has threatened 200% tariffs on European wine and champagne in response to the European Union's plan to impose 50% tariffs on American whiskey and other products.

“If this tariff is not removed immediately, the U.S. will shortly place a 200 percent tariff on all wines, Champagnes, and alcoholic products coming out of France and other E.U. represented countries,” the American president wrote on Thursday on his social network Truth Social.

Trump has repeatedly accused the European Union of being established solely to disadvantage the US, a claim he also made during his first term in office.

The EU took the measure in response to new US tariffs on steel and aluminium. European leaders are hoping for negotiations but are prepared to take countermeasures. The European alcohol industry does not want to yield to Trump's pressure but fears significant losses if high tariffs are imposed.

(Fausto - Source: NYT, BBC, CNN - Illustration picture: DPA picture alliance / Newscom | Yuri Gripas)