President Trump on Thursday threatened 200% tariffs on all alcoholic merchandise coming from the European Union after the nations levied a 50% tax on whiskey coming from the US.
“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,” Trump, 78, posted on his Fact Social.
“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.”
The president has been threatening to impose reciprocal tariffs on the EU for weeks as part of his agenda to scale back commerce deficits — together with with US allies.
The EU introduced the 50% whiskey tariff — set to be imposed on April 1 — as a response to Trump’s new tariff on all metal and aluminum imports that went into impact Wednesday.
