8 hours agoTrump threatens EU with 200% alcohol fee
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)United States President Donald Trump has threatened the European Union that it will impose 200 per cent of its fee on wine, champagne and other European alcoholic beverages if the bloc applies the proposed fee to American whiskey. Tarifa, which the EU said is placing as counterension against US administration tariffs [...]
The Tarifa, which the EU said is placing as countering the US administration's tariffs on aluminum and steel, is expected to be implemented on April 1st.
But Trump pledged Thursday to scale the trade war, if the EU does not give up its goal of imposing the 50 per cent fee on American whiskey.
If this fee is not removed immediately, the U.S. will quickly set a 200 per cent fee against all the wines, champagne and alcohol products coming from France and other EU countries”, Trump wrote on social networks, writes Radio Free Europe, broadcast Periscope.
The “will be very good for the US wine and champagne business”, he added.
The republican president hinted Wednesday that he intends to take such action.
“Of course I will answer”, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
Trump, announcing the aluminum and steel tariffs on Wednesday, openly challenged US allies, and pledged to restore the property of “-year-old” from other countries.
He has imposed separate tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, and is also planning to impose taxes on imports from the European Union, Brazil and South Korea, setting a <x0-reciproke tariff” from April 2nd.
US tariffs affect trade worth 25.6 billion euros in the EU, while the bloc responded with a package of measures worth a total of 26 billion euros to American goods, which would be introduced in two phases.
The first phase, April 1st, hits classical American products, such as bourbon, jeans, and Charlie-Davidson motorcycles, all worth 8 billion euros.
The second tariff package, proposed to take effect on 13 April, however, must receive the preference of the qualified majority of EU member states. This package affects goods, such as agricultural products, textiles, household equipment, and plastic, worth a total of 18 billion euros.
Diplomats with whom Radio Free Europe has spoken believe such a majority exists, as the bloc has become increasingly angry with the American administration.
