U.S.- EU trade tensions escalate: Bayrou calls for talks
French Prime Minister François Bayrou said the European Union might have mistakenly targeted American whiskey in response to the USA's tariffs. Bayrou called for discussions to avoid further damaging tariffs that could impact the French cognac industry.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Thursday to impose a 200% tariff on all wines and other alcoholic products from the EU if the Union does not abandon the planned tax on American bourbon, according to Reuters.
Bayrou noted that "certain mistakes were made" because Kentucky bourbon was included as if it posed a trade threat, referring to the tariffs proposed by the EU in response to U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium.
The French Prime Minister, François Bayrou, mentioned in a Sunday interview with "France Inter" radio that "an ancient list of products was reinstated without proper verification."
He believes the European Union might have made a mistake by targeting American whiskey.
Trump's threat regarding European wines and alcoholic beverages has caused concern among European producers who rely on exports, including French cognac producers who have already been affected by tariffs imposed by Beijing in a separate dispute over EU tariffs on Chinese electric cars, as reported by Reuters.
