Trump threatens 200% tariffs on European wine and spirits

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President Donald Trump said he will place 200% tariffs on wine, Champagne and other alcoholic products from Europe if the the European Union doesn’t rescind its countermeasures to U.S. duties. 

The president specifically called for the removal of a 50% tariff on U.S. whiskey by the EU in a Truth Social post Thursday. 

On Wednesday, the EU announced it would roll out countermeasures to Trump’s 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum products that went into effect the same day. The retaliatory action includes the resumption of previous tariffs on goods like bourbon, boats and motorbikes on April 1. 

The duties, which were implemented in response to previous steel and aluminum tariffs enacted during the first Trump administration, were suspended in 2022, with the pause period later extended to March 31, 2025. 

The EU will also introduce “a package of new countermeasures” in mid-April, according to a press release from the European Commission. 

In total, the combined actions will affect 26 billion euros worth of U.S. goods, in line with the $28 million impact of U.S. tariffs on EU exports, per the release. 

In his post to Truth Social, Trump said tariffs would be “great for the Wine and Champagne businesses in the U.S.”

The U.S. spirits industry has lobbied against tariffs, saying certain products like Tequila and Bourbon can only be produced in certain geographical regions around the world and additional taxes would hamper the industry’s recovery post-COVID-19. Champagne, for example, is by definition produced in Champagne region of France. 

Sarah Zimmerman contributed to this story.