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Trump threatens 200% tariff on alcohol from EU Trump threatens 200% tariff on alcohol from EU
(about 1 hour later)
US President Donald Trump has threatened a 200% tariff on any alcohol coming to the US from the EU in the latest twist in an escalating trade war.US President Donald Trump has threatened a 200% tariff on any alcohol coming to the US from the EU in the latest twist in an escalating trade war.
Trump made the threat in response to the EU's announcement of a levy on US-produced whiskey as part of its counter-tariffs in response to US tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports. Trump made the threat in response to the EU's plans for a levy on US-produced whiskey in retaliation for US tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports.
He called for the immediate removal of the EU's tariff on US whiskey, calling the EU "nasty", "hostile and abusive", and "formed for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the United States". He called for the immediate removal of the EU's tariff on US whiskey, calling the bloc "nasty", "hostile and abusive", and "formed for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the United States".
The European Commission spokesperson said that "calls are being prepared" between between the US and the EU to discuss the situation. A European Commission spokesperson said that "calls are being prepared" between between the US and the EU to discuss the situation.
It confirmed that its trade commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, had "reached out to his American counterparts" after Trump threatened retaliation against EU tariffs on Wednesday.It confirmed that its trade commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, had "reached out to his American counterparts" after Trump threatened retaliation against EU tariffs on Wednesday.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump said the tariff on EU alcohol imports would be "great for the Wine and Champagne businesses in the US". Writing on Truth Social, Trump said the tariff - a new border tax on alcohol imports from the EU - would be "great for the Wine and Champagne businesses in the US".
The latest threat marks a continued escalation of a trade war which has rattled financial markets amid concerns over the impact on the economies and consumers in many countries around the world, including the US.The latest threat marks a continued escalation of a trade war which has rattled financial markets amid concerns over the impact on the economies and consumers in many countries around the world, including the US.
On Wednesday, Trump moved forward with a plan to widen US tariffs on steel and aluminium, imposing a blanket duty of 25% and ending exemptions that the US had previously granted for shipments from some countries. Trump has threatened tariffs on a range of more specific items, including copper, lumber and cars on a range of countries since taking office in January.
That followed an order earlier this month that raised levies on Chinese imports into the US to at least 20%. Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminium came into effect on Wednesday, imposing a blanket duty of 25% on imports and ending exemptions that the US had previously granted for shipments from some countries.
Trump has also threatened tariffs - which are taxes applied to goods as they enter a country - on a range of more specific items, including copper, lumber and cars. The same day, he u-turned on a plan to double US tariffs on Canadian steel and metal imports to 50%, just hours after first threatening them.
He has also imposed 25% taxes on goods from Mexico and Canada, some of which he later suspended, earlier this month and raised levies on Chinese imports into the US to at least 20%.
Leaders in Canada and Europe have called the new taxes unjustified and struck back with their own tariffs on a range of US products.Leaders in Canada and Europe have called the new taxes unjustified and struck back with their own tariffs on a range of US products.
The latest dispute is a reprise of a battle that played out during Trump's first term, when he first hit aluminium and steel with tariffs.
The EU retaliated with tariffs of its own, including a 25% tax on American whiskey.
In the aftermath, American sales to the EU dropped 20% between 2018 and 2021, according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the US.
The two sides ultimately reached a deal and the tariffs were lifted, after a deal that exempted a certain amount of European metals from the duties.
But Trump ended that carve-out on Wednesday and has indicated little appetite for deal-making this time.