Trump threatens 200% tariff on French wine over backing for Gaza peace board

United States President Donald Trump has warned he intends to slam France with 200 percent tariffs on its wine and champagne to compel it to sign onto his peace initiative aimed at overseeing the next steps in Gaza and tackling global conflicts.

Trump invited France last week to join his so-called Board of Peace, but French President Emmanuel Macron has no plans to participate, a senior official said on Monday.

Questioned by a reporter about Macron's decision not to join the board, Trump said: "Did he say that? Well, nobody wants him because he will be out of office very soon.

"I'll put a 200 percent tariff on his wines and champagnes, and he'll join, but he doesn't have to join," Trump added.

Trump first floated the idea of the Board of Peace in September, when he laid out a plan to end the fighting in Gaza. The invite that went out last week frames the effort more broadly, aimed at ending conflicts around the globe.

About 60 countries received a draft charter sent by the US, and the members would need to put up $1 billion if they want their membership to last more than three years, according to a document seen by Reuters.

Bloomberg reported that Trump aims to finalize the board's full charter and mandate at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday.

On Friday, Trump touted the board as "the greatest and most prestigious board ever assembled at any time, any place".

Screenshots of messages that Trump posted on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday showed Macron saying he could set up a Thursday afternoon meeting in Paris, which would include Ukraine, Denmark, Russia and Syria. Trump's reply was not shown, and the White House offered no comment, Reuters reported.

Reacting warily

Over the weekend, several governments reacted warily to Trump's proposal on the peace initiative, with diplomats warning it could sideline the work of the United Nations.

On Monday, Trump said he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to join the board. "He's been invited," Trump said.

On Saturday, Trump said he would impose a 10 percent tariff on European nations unless they back his plan to buy Greenland, with the levy potentially rising to 25 percent.

Some French officials accused the US president of blackmail over the peace board initiative. France's Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry Annie Genevard told French TV station TF1,"It's shocking because it's brutal, it's done to force compliance."

In March, Trump threatened to slap 200 percent duties on European wines, including champagne, amid a trade fight with the European Union. His administration did not carry it out, but the warning rattled France's champagne industry.

The US is the world's largest buyer of sparkling wine, importing about $1.75 billion worth in 2023, according to World Integrated Trade Solution.

jonathan@mail.chinadailyuk.com