President Donald Trump fired a shot across the Atlantic on Thursday, vowing to slap a staggering 200% tariff on European wines, champagnes, and booze if the EU doesn’t ditch its 50% whiskey tax pronto. The salvo comes as the global trade war heats up, with the European Commission set to hit $28 billion in U.S. goods with counter-tariffs starting April 1.
The EU’s move follows Trump’s broad steel and aluminum tariffs, but Brussels insists it’s still open to talks, calling sky-high tariffs a lose-lose game. Trump, unmoved, took to Truth Social to blast the bloc: “The European Union, formed to fleece the U.S., just stuck a nasty 50% tariff on whiskey. If they don’t drop it fast, we’ll hit all their wines and alcohol with a 200% tariff—cheers to American winemakers!”
Markets flinched—U.S. stock futures dipped, and European liquor stocks stumbled. The EU’s tariff suspension ends April 1, with full measures locked in by April 13, setting the stage for a boozy showdown.
From Italian vineyards to French champagne houses, Europe’s alcohol industry could soon feel the squeeze—unless whiskey gets a reprieve.