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President Donald Trump threatened massive tariffs Thursday on alcoholic products from Europe after a new 50 percent tariff on whiskey from the EU.
Trump shared the reaction in a post on his Truth Social account.
“The European Union, 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, has just put a nasty 50% Tariff on Whisky,” the president wrote.
“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. This will be great for the Wine and Champagne businesses in the U.S.” he added.
The European Commission announced Wednesday that it would levy tariffs on €26 billion ($28.31 billion) worth of U.S. goods starting next month, escalating a global trade dispute in response to U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum, Reuters reported.
The news was not welcomed by Europe’s spirits and cosmetics industries. Leaders pushed back against the European Commission’s plan to impose tariffs on American goods, warning that the move could jeopardize the continent’s significantly larger trade relationship with the United States in those sectors.
The exchange also follows ongoing tariff battles with China, Mexico and Canada, with America’s northern neighbor becoming the strongest source of controversy.
On Tuesday, Trump announced more tariffs against targeted goods from the country as Ontario threatened to cut off electricity to the U.S.
“Based on Ontario, Canada, placing a 25% Tariff on ‘Electricity’ coming into the United States, I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD,” the president wrote on Truth Social.
More tariffs are expected to begin on April 2 after two delays from the Trump administration to impose the measures in February and March.