By SCM REPORTER
DONALD TRUMP has uncorked a massive trade row with France, threatening to slap a staggering 200% tariff on their wine and champagne.
The US President issued the “bubbly” ultimatum after reports emerged that French leader Emmanuel Macron is snubbing an invitation to join Trump’s newly formed “Board of Peace.”
Speaking to reporters, a defiant Trump mocked the French President’s longevity in office before vowing to hit the nation’s most famous export where it hurts.
“Well, nobody wants him because he’s going to be out of office very soon,” Trump jibed.
“That’s all right. What I’ll do is if they feel hostile, I’ll put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes and he’ll join.”
The President added with a shrug: “But he doesn’t have to join.”
The spark for the latest transatlantic spat is the Board of Peace, a Trump-led initiative intended to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza and resolve global conflicts.
While leaders from Russia, the UK, and India have reportedly been invited, Paris is dragging its heels.
Sources close to the Élysée Palace suggest Macron is wary of the board’s $1 billion “buy-in” price tag and concerns that the body could bypass the United Nations.
This isn’t the first time Trump has targeted the French vineyards.
During his first term, he famously complained that “American wine is better than French wine,” despite being a well-known teetotaller.
If the 200% levy goes ahead, it would effectively treble the price of a bottle of Bordeaux or Moët in the US, potentially crippling the French export market which is worth billions.
Industry experts warn that such a move could trigger a “tit-for-tat” trade war with the EU, who have previously threatened duties on American bourbon and Harley-Davidsons in response to US tariffs.
The threat was made during a press gaggle on January 19, 2026, following reports that France would decline a seat on the Board of Peace.
The Conflict: Relations between the US and France have been strained over Trump’s “America First” approach to the Gaza conflict and his recent fixation on purchasing Greenland from Denmark.
Economic Impact: The US is the top export market for French wine.
A 200% tariff would likely halt exports entirely, according to the French Federation of Wine and Spirit Exporters.
