Trump threatens to impose 200% tax on alcohol from European Union

US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 200% tariff on any wine or spirits coming from the EU to the US if the EU does not lift its tariffs on American whiskey.

This comes after the EU said it would impose a tax on US-made whiskey as part of its counter-tariffs in response to US tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports.

Trump called the EU’s move “nasty” and called the move to impose tariffs on €26 billion worth of American goods “hostile and abusive”. He called for the immediate removal of EU tariffs on American whiskey, saying the EU was set up for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the US.

Speaking on Truth Social, Trump said the EU’s tariffs on alcohol imports would be great for the US wine and champagne business.

Leaders in Canada and Europe called the new taxes unfair and have retaliated with their own tariffs on a range of US products.