Trump Threatens 200% Tariff on French Wines and Champagne Over Macron’s Rejection of ‘Board of Peace’

U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated diplomatic tensions with France, threatening to impose a staggering 200% tariff on French wines and champagnes if President Emmanuel Macron continues to reject an invitation to join Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace” initiative.

Speaking to reporters in Miami before boarding a flight to Washington, Trump dismissed Macron’s influence and framed the tariff as leverage to secure French participation in the new body aimed at resolving global conflicts, including the war in Gaza.

“Well, nobody wants him because he’s going to be out of office very soon,” Trump said. “So you know, that’s all right. What I’ll do is, if they feel like [being] hostile, I’ll put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes, and he’ll join. But he doesn’t have to join.”

The comment came after reports from sources close to Macron indicated that France intends to decline the invitation at this stage. The proposed Board of Peace has drawn cautious or skeptical reactions internationally, with diplomats warning it could undermine the United Nations. Trump has also extended an invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin to join the group.

This latest threat fits into a broader pattern of trade-related pressure from the Trump administration toward Europe. Over the weekend, Trump warned of tariffs up to 25% on several European countries, including the UK, amid disputes over U.S. ambitions regarding Greenland and other issues.

French officials have so far emphasized resistance to economic coercion, with hints that the European Union could respond with countermeasures on American goods if such tariffs are implemented. France and the EU trade as a bloc, meaning any targeted measures on French products like wine could affect the wider transatlantic relationship.