In a significant escalation of trade tensions with a key European ally, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose unprecedented 200% tariffs on French wines and champagnes. The declaration came late Monday following French President Emmanuel Macron’s refusal to participate in Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace” initiative.
Trump made the retaliatory threat in response to a reporter’s question about Macron’s decision, stating: “I’ll put a 200 percent tariff on his wines and champagnes, and he’ll join, but he doesn’t have to join.” The remarks represent a significant departure from traditional diplomatic protocols, linking trade policy directly to participation in presidential initiatives.
The proposed tariffs would effectively triple the price of French wine and champagne imports to the United States, potentially devastating a sector that exported approximately $2 billion worth of products to the U.S. market annually. France remains the second-largest supplier of wine to American consumers after Italy.
This development marks another chapter in the complex relationship between Trump and Macron, which has featured both public displays of camaraderie and significant policy disagreements. The “Board of Peace” initiative itself remains undefined in public documents, leaving unclear what specific commitments Trump sought from European allies.
Trade experts indicate that such a tariff move would likely trigger immediate retaliation from the European Union under its existing trade defense mechanisms. The French wine industry, which employs approximately 500,000 people across production, distribution, and tourism, would face severe disruption from such measures.
The threat emerges against the backdrop of ongoing transatlantic trade negotiations and follows previous tensions over digital services taxes and agricultural imports. Market analysts are monitoring whether this represents a negotiating tactic or a firm policy direction from the administration.