NEW: Trump threatens 200% tariff on EU spirits, beer and wine after 50% whiskey tariff

President Donald Trump has threatened that if a 50 percent tariff on whiskey produced in the United States is not removed "immediately" in the European Union, that he will impose a 200 percent tariff on all alcoholic beverages that are imported to the US from the European countries.

Trump wrote on Truth Social, "The European Union, 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 US will shortly place a 200% Tariff on all WINES, CHAMPAGNES, & ALCOHOLIC PRODUCTS COMING OUT OF FRANCE AND OTHER EU REPRESENTED COUNTRIES. This will be great for the Wine and Champagne businesses in the US."



The tariff from the EU on US bourbon will kick in on April 1 if it is not removed, per Politico. After Trump announced the potential tariff, the Wall Street Journal reported on the move and the paper's opinion section has been generally critical of the president for his various tariff threats. 

Trump responded in another post, "The Globalist Wall Street Journal has no idea what they are doing or saying. They are owned by the polluted thinking of the European Union, which was formed for the primary purpose of 'screwing' the United States of America. Their (WSJ!) thinking is antiquated and weak, and very bad for the USA. But have no fear, we will WIN on everything!!! Egg prices are down, oil is down, interest rates are down, and TARIFF RELATED MONEY IS POURING INTO THE UNITED STATES. 'The only thing you have to fear, is fear itself!'"



The president has made a number of different tariff threats on other nations, including Canada as well as Mexico. He has also used the import tax as a way to leverage wins from other countries. Trump has also promised to implement a reciprocal tariff against all countries starting on April 2, where the US will respond to countries implementing tariffs on US goods they consume by implementing similar tariffs on imports to the US.