The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has just threatened the European Union, "one of the most hostile and abusive tax and tariff authorities in the world", with 200% tariffs on wines and champagne.
Low angle view of skyscrapers and american flags waving on fifth avenue in manhattan, new york city
Why is Trump so set against Europe?
The statement, just reported by Ansa, is related to the 50% tariffs on American whisky announced yesterday by Europe, as Trump himself wrote:
"If it is not immediately removed, the United States will soon impose 200% tariffs on all wines, champagnes, and alcoholic products coming from France and other European Union countries. It will be great for American wine companies."
A predictable countermeasure, so much so that Federvini had already made an appeal to the EU to suspend the additional tariffs on whisky (which would take effect from April 1st) with the aim of avoiding further strain on relations with Washington. And yesterday, from Federvini to Ceev, the sector had asked the EU Commission not to include American wine in the blacklist, in the context of the steel and aluminium dispute, to avoid a glaring own goal. Trump's additional tariffs could come into effect from April 2nd, as already stated by the White House.
The French response
France’s response was swift, determined to react to the announced tariffs. "We will not give in to threats," declared the French Minister for Foreign Trade, Laurent Saint-Martin, on X.
Meanwhile, the French association Fevs, which represents wine and spirits exporters, stated that their interests had been sacrificed after the European Commission imposed tariffs on whisky produced in the United States.
"This has put us directly in the crosshairs of the President of the United States," said the head of the association, Nicolas Ozanam.
"We are tired of being systematically sacrificed for issues that do not concern us," he told AFP, calling on the EU Commission to show realism.
Europe would lose 4.9 billion euros
"The escalation of trade wars creates grotesque situations where everyone loses. We are witnessing the sleep of reason that generates monsters, and we hope for a prompt awakening from this nightmare because wine is a symbol of friendship between the two peoples," commented Lamberto Frescobaldi, president of the Italian Wine Union.
"With 200% tariffs, which we do not want to believe in any more than we believe in monsters, the EU would lose about 4.9 billion euros in exports, which is the total amount of overseas exports. But the entire American wine & food industry would also suffer because, for every euro spent on imported wine, 4.5 euros are generated in favour of the US economy."
According to the Uiv Observatory, last year Italy sent 24% of its total global wine exports to the US, amounting to 1.93 billion euros (+10% on 2023). This figure would be completely wiped out in the case of 200% tariffs.
The thousand street specialities of Palermo’s oldest market
A promising new bar opens inside a historic theatre in Rome: the Teatro della Cometa is reborn
Chianti, Amarone, and Prosecco: the wines most at risk from US tariffs
Italian wine seeks new markets. From India to Brazil (and surprisingly, Ireland), here’s how the export map is changing
The 15 best Pecorino tastings for an ageing wine (even for long ageing)
