The ‘trade war’ feuds show no sign of cooling down
A French Minister was quick to fire back at Donald Trump after he threatened the European Union to avoid serious tariff changes.
Trump appears unfazed by the prospect of ruffling feathers among longtime allies, as he once again takes aim at the European Union.
Since reclaiming the White House earlier this year, he has shown no hesitation in playing hardball with America’s closest partners, repeatedly threatening steep tariff hikes on Canada, Mexico, and the EU.
In his latest move, Trump took to Truth Social today (March 13) to announce a bold retaliation—warning that he will slap a staggering 200% tariff on champagne in response to what he sees as unfair trade practices by the bloc.
Trump didn’t hold back in his latest trade war salvo, unleashing a fiery post on Truth Social today (March 13) targeting the European Union.
Blasting the EU as “one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the world,” Trump claimed the bloc was “formed for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the United States.” His outrage stemmed from the EU’s recent decision to impose a hefty 50% tariff on whisky.
In response, Trump threatened swift and severe retaliation:
“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.”
He added, “This will be great for the Wine and Champagne businesses in the U.S.”
His remarks sparked an immediate reaction from French Minister Laurent Saint-Martin, who fired back on Twitter. In a translated post, he slammed Trump’s aggressive stance, saying:
“D. Trump is escalating the trade war he chose to unleash. France remains determined to respond with the European Commission and our partners. We will not give in to threats and will always protect our sectors.”
Trump’s latest tariff threat comes as tensions between Washington and Brussels continue to rise. The EU’s move to hike taxes was a direct response to U.S. tariffs—originally imposed by Trump—slapping a 25% duty on steel and aluminum imports. With neither side backing down, the transatlantic trade battle is heating up once again.
The European Union is pushing back hard against Trump’s latest tariff threats, standing firm on its recent 50% levy on U.S. goods—impacting €26 billion (around $28 billion) worth of American exports, including bourbon whiskey.
French Minister Laurent Saint-Martin’s defiant response wasn’t the only one. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also weighed in, countering Trump’s hardline stance with a strong defense of transatlantic trade ties.
“The trade relations between the European Union and the U.S. are the biggest in the world. They have brought prosperity and security to millions of people, and trade has created millions of jobs on both sides of the Atlantic,” von der Leyen stated.
She also condemned the U.S.’s 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum, which sparked the EU’s retaliatory tax hikes:
“We deeply regret this measure. Tariffs are taxes. They are bad for business, and even worse for consumers. These tariffs are disrupting supply chains. They bring uncertainty for the economy. Jobs are at stake. Prices will go up. In Europe and in the United States. The European Union must act to protect consumers and business.”
With both sides refusing to back down, tensions between Washington and Brussels are reaching a boiling point—setting the stage for a prolonged trade showdown.
