France's prime minister responds to Trump's tariff threats: 'We will not yield'
The U.S. president specifically singled out France and Champagne, a typical product from that country, in addition to wine.
Prime Minister of France
French Prime Minister François Bayrou referred to President Donald Trump's threats to impose 200% tariffs on all alcohol coming from the European Union if the bloc does not reverse its "nasty" 50% tariff on U.S. whiskey.
"It is important for us Europeans to show who we are and that we will not yield to these kinds of threats," Bayrou said in a speech Thursday at a trade forum and picked up by AFP.
The position aligns with those of French Foreign Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin, who wrote on X that Trump was "intensifying the trade war."
Saint-Martin assured that his country was determined to "fight back" together with the European Union. "We will not bow to threats and will always protect our industries," he promised.
">D. Trump lance la surenchère dans la guerre commerciale qu’il a choisi de déclencher.
— Laurent Saint-Martin (@LaurentSMartin) March 13, 2025
La France reste déterminée à riposter avec la Commission européenne et nos partenaires.
Nous ne céderons pas aux menaces et protègerons toujours nos filières.
President Trump specifically singled out France and Champagne, a typical product from that country, in addition to wine. "This will be great for the Wine and Champagne businesses in the U.S.," he assured.
The warning came hours after the E.U. announced a plan to place tariffs on U.S. goods in response to those implemented by the United States on steel and aluminum, which will take effect on April 1.
RECOMMENDATION
LATEST
