Trump Threatens 200% Tariff on Alcohol as European Union Retaliates in Trade War

AP Photo/Alex Brandon

President Donald Trump has threatened more tariffs on Thursday, this time targeting the European Union.

Trump took to Truth Social Thursday morning, accusing the EU of being “one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the World.” He claimed it was formed “for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the United States.”

The president said he is imposing a 200% tariff on any alcohol products imported from European Union countries in response to a 50% tariff on whiskey. The whiskey tariff is part of a larger response by the European Union, which has included raising tariffs on a number of goods. This has been in response to Trump’s 25% tariff on all global steel and aluminum imports.

Trump has repeatedly threatened further tariffs on European imports, possibly to be put in place by early April. The European Union could be expanding their own tariffs to include a number of important products, The New York Times reported.

Trump claimed his tariff on alcohol products will be “great” for US businesses.

“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.”