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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[–] [email protected] 68 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month 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.

[–] [email protected] 55 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 month ago (2 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 month ago
[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month 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.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

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

[–] [email protected] 44 points 1 month ago (2 children)

"Champagne businesses in the U.S."

What an uncultured dumbass.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 month ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Champagne is fermentrd, moonshine is distilled.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Relax. We're just throwing hot air around.

[–] RowRowRowYourBot 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The USA does not recognize Champagne as a protected name

[–] [email protected] 39 points 1 month 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 9 points 1 month 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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

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

[–] RowRowRowYourBot 1 points 1 month ago

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

[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 month ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 month 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).

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 month 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.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 month ago

400% tax on coca cola!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month 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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month 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.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month 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.

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 month ago

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

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 month 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?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

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

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 month 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.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 month 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 :)

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 month ago

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

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month 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.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

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

[–] gigachad 12 points 1 month ago

This guy is so cringe

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

More booze for us, enjoy your prohibition lite.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

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

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month 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!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month 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"

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month 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...

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago

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

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I don’t drink alcohol so I’m good.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Wonder where the downvotes come from, I enjoyed it. Is this r/yourjokebutworse territory?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

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

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