this post was submitted on 13 Mar 2025
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Donald Trump is starting off his morning by doing something he’s done quite often, which is threaten tariffs on major US trading partners.

The latest salvo is aimed at the European Union and their alcoholic beverage industry, particularly France and its world-renowned vineyards. Trump says he’ll put tariffs on what the bloc exports to the United States, after the EU yesterday imposed their own levies on American whiskey in retaliation for Trump’s tariffs on imports of aluminum and steel.

The escalatory tit-for-tat is why these things are referred to as trade wars. Here’s what 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 U.S. will shortly place a 200% Tariff on all WINES, CHAMPAGNES, & ALCOHOLIC PRODUCTS COMING OUT OF FRANCE AND OTHER E.U. REPRESENTED COUNTRIES. This will be great for the Wine and Champagne businesses in the U.S.

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[–] GenosseFlosse@feddit.org 6 points 8 hours ago

This feels like he is playing an RPG with the lowest character and intelligence points, where his only remaining actions are "impose levies", "play golf" and "incoherent rambling"

[–] schmak@aussie.zone 2 points 10 hours ago

For everyone playing at home - you literally cannot have an American Champagne.

[–] ikidd@lemmy.world 23 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

Do it, you fucking coward. Americans should be forced to drink the swill they make domestically.

[–] podperson@lemm.ee 11 points 16 hours ago

No one deserves to drink wine from Virginia (coincidentally, where Trump's winery is). California has proven for decades that they can stand on equal footing to anything produced in France (sorry France - I still love you).

[–] A_A@lemmy.world 61 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

if "A" does an action and "B" does a retaliatory move, then, next thing "A" does is not retaliatory. Now "A" is doing escalation. This is full on trade war and America has already lost looking at the markets.

[–] XOXOX@lemmy.world 41 points 22 hours ago (9 children)

"Champagne businesses in the U.S."

What an uncultured dumbass.

[–] superkret@feddit.org 22 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

It's only Champagne if it's from Champagnooga, Tennessee.
Otherwise it's just sparkling moonshine.

[–] qyron@sopuli.xyz 3 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Champagne is fermentrd, moonshine is distilled.

[–] superkret@feddit.org 2 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago) (1 children)
[–] qyron@sopuli.xyz 2 points 14 hours ago

Relax. We're just throwing hot air around.

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[–] coldwarful@lemm.ee 51 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago) (1 children)

Good, keep your Jack Daniels and I keep my Chianti, Grappa, Merlot and Riesling. Win-win.

[–] intelisense@lemm.ee 10 points 22 hours ago (2 children)

Jack Daniels is shit, drink a glass of Scotish or Irish whisky/whiskey instead.

[–] teslasaur@lemmy.world 10 points 22 hours ago
[–] coldwarful@lemm.ee 5 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Tbh, I can't stand Bourbon, regardless of country of origin. Don't know of a single good scotch from the States though.

[–] superkret@feddit.org 13 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago) (1 children)

There is no Scotch from the States.
Scotch is from Scotland by definition.

[–] coldwarful@lemm.ee 4 points 14 hours ago

You're absolutely right! I should've said malt or grain whiskey.

[–] mstrk@lemmy.world 15 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

This will be great for the Wine and Champagne businesses in the U.S.

lol

What's next? U.S. Vinho Verde?

[–] qyron@sopuli.xyz 5 points 17 hours ago

Another knock-off? That's a product of my country! Vinho verde Γ© do Minho, carago!

[–] Linden@lemmy.world 37 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Absolutely nobody will be shocked to learn that Trump owns a winery in Virginia and stands to profit off of this.

[–] RowRowRowYourBot@sh.itjust.works 8 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

The wine sucks. Patticia Kluge who owned the winery at first put hundreds of millions into it before it failed. Trump bought it at a very cheap price.

What I wish still existed at NYC closeout costs was his vodka which was shit at $45 but was good at $16.

[–] podperson@lemm.ee 2 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Can confirm - Virginia wine is just not good (red wines in particular). Have had a white or 2 that were ok.

It's too humid and the growing season is too short.

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 2 points 13 hours ago

Lol, good luck having cabinet meetings without scotch, idiot.

[–] ramble81@lemm.ee 13 points 19 hours ago

He’s finally learned that tariffs aren’t a discount on the price and as such the value can go above 100%. The sky is the limit at this point.

[–] qyron@sopuli.xyz 7 points 17 hours ago

I feel miffed at this.

My country makes and exports better wines and spirits than France and nobody remembers us. I want to see the Orange Avenger being miffed at Portugal! I want tariffs on Porto and Madeira wines imports! Try and get those anywhere else!

[–] thefluffiest 20 points 22 hours ago (3 children)

And nothing of value would be lost if Europe were to blanket ban all US drinks. Especially US wines and spirits. Vile, overly expensive stuff.

[–] intelisense@lemm.ee 19 points 22 hours ago

400% tax on coca cola!

[–] superkret@feddit.org 4 points 19 hours ago

Californian red wine is pretty good.
But if it were off the shelves where I live, I likely wouldn't even notice.
And if I did, I'd be like "meh" and buy one from Chile, Australia, or Spain instead.

[–] teslasaur@lemmy.world 3 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Yes on all, but oak aged chardonnay. Fucking love that shit. Been buying one from Washington for years now. Ste Michelle.

Gonna miss it while the carrot rules.

[–] thefluffiest 6 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

Meursault would be an even better substitute. There’s also great oaked Chardonnay from the Maconnais and Languedoc. Sicily also offers great options.

[–] teslasaur@lemmy.world 1 points 15 hours ago

Mersault is like twice the price. Have not found a French substitute yet.

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[–] oce@jlai.lu 17 points 23 hours ago

We should put a 1000% tax on BigMacs. Let's see how fast the numbers can go up.

[–] Ziggurat@jlai.lu 13 points 22 hours ago (2 children)

If we don't sell champagne to the US does it mean the price will get lower for us ? If yes, I'm all in :)

[–] einkorn@feddit.org 13 points 22 hours ago

Bar any other factors, yes, that should be the case.

Given there are multitudes of variables in play here: Unlikely.

[–] aleq@lemmy.world 2 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

IIRC wine and other alcohol products are already struggling a bit in the EU because the younger generation doesn't drink as much.

[–] naeap@sopuli.xyz 5 points 19 hours ago

As an old fuck:
I'm doing my part to keep our economy up!

[–] ArchmageAzor@lemmy.world 7 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

More booze for us, enjoy your prohibition lite.

[–] qyron@sopuli.xyz 1 points 17 hours ago

I enjoy my glass of wine and occasional spirit but... come on! Not that much!

[–] gigachad@sh.itjust.works 12 points 23 hours ago

This guy is so cringe

[–] gajustempus@feddit.org 5 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

then maybe Europe should retailiate by tariffs ov 250% on ANYTHING american - including ALL software services. And, if they don't pay immediately - what about rate-limiting their bandwidth until they pay proper taxes in Europe?

If they still block - SOME of their hardware is in European datacenters. We - Europe - plan on building our own big IT infrastructure. So, to quote Age of Empires:

"Nice cloud server - I'll take it." - and seize ALL the american IT hardware we've got here.

Let them sue...

[–] superkret@feddit.org 6 points 19 hours ago

Banning all American products and services would be a net positive on European society in the long term, IMO.

[–] RainbowHedgehog@lemm.ee 4 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

I don’t drink alcohol so I’m good.

[–] sirico@feddit.uk 20 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago) (1 children)
[–] CyberEgg@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 21 hours ago

No, it's exactly the opposite. No.alcohol means no spirits.

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