Trump (Image: Getty)
Donald Trump has warned he could hit the EU with 200% tariffs on wine as the US President threatens more trade war chaos.
Posting on Truth Social, he said: “The , 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. 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.”
His comments threaten to further escalate tensions between Brussles and Washington, which could unleash a full trade war.
Trump’s social media post comes after the EU said it would raise its levies on up to €26bn (£22bn) worth of US goods, including boats, bourbon and motorbikes, from 1 April.
This was in retaliation for the White House’s decision on Wednesday 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.
Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, justified the EU’s response, saying it was intended to be “strong but proportionate”.
She added that the EU stood “ready to engage in a meaningful dialogue” to try and resolve the growing crisis.
“Tariffs are taxes. They are bad for business and worse for consumers,” she said, warning the economic disruption put jobs at stake and would send prices higher.
“Nobody needs that – on both sides, neither in the nor in the United States.”
We’ll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.For the latest news and breaking news visit: []( “”)Stay up to date with all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.Follow our social media accounts here on []( “”) and @daily_express