French wine exporters say Trump s latest tariff threat is bad news

 


PARIS, June 15 (Reuters) - French wine and spirits exporters said on Monday U.S. President Donald Trump's threat of 100% tariffs on French wine and champagne was bad news for an export-dependent industry caught in a dispute beyond its control.

Trump warned the United States would "have no choice but to charge a 100% tariff on all champagnes and all wines coming out of France", unless Paris scraps a digital tax of 3% on U.S. tech giants.

• "This new threat is bad news for our industry, which relies heavily on exports," French wine and spirits exporters group FEVS said in a reaction to Reuters.

• The group urged "responsible behaviour", calling for balanced and constructive trade ties between France and the United States, "in the interest of both economies"

• Trump previously threatened a 200% tariff on imports of wine and other alcoholic beverages from France and the EU, for instance in January this year and March last year as transatlantic trade tension rose.