Trump Threatens 200% Tariffs on French Wines and Champagne Over Macron’s Refusal to Join ‘Board of Peace’
In a sharp escalation of transatlantic tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a staggering 200% tariff on French wines and champagnes after French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly declined an invitation to join Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace” initiative.
The threat came during remarks to reporters on January 19, 2026, when Trump was informed of France’s likely refusal to participate in the board, which is intended to address global conflicts, including the redevelopment and peace process in Gaza. “Nobody wants him because he’s going to be out of office very soon,” Trump said of Macron. “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 “Board of Peace” — sometimes referred to as a “Board for Peace” — has been pitched by Trump as a U.S.-led forum to resolve international disputes and oversee post-conflict efforts in Gaza. Reports indicate the proposed body includes controversial figures such as Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Belarus’s Alexander Lukashenko, raising concerns among European leaders that it could undermine established institutions like the United Nations.
French officials have expressed skepticism about the initiative. A source close to Macron indicated that Paris views the board’s charter as potentially overreaching and detrimental to multilateral frameworks. France’s agriculture minister reportedly described the tariff threat as “blackmail,” highlighting fears that economic pressure is being used to coerce diplomatic alignment.
Adding fuel to the diplomatic fire, Trump publicly shared a screenshot of a private text message from Macron on his social media platform. In the message, Macron invited Trump to dinner in Paris and proposed a meeting involving Ukraine, Syria, Denmark, and Russia on the sidelines of other discussions. The French president also expressed alignment with Trump on issues like Syria and Iran but questioned U.S. actions regarding Greenland — a separate but related point of contention in recent U.S.-European relations.
This latest episode fits into a broader pattern of Trump employing tariff threats as leverage against countries resisting his foreign policy priorities. In recent weeks, he has warned multiple European nations of import duties over opposition to U.S. demands concerning Greenland, further straining relations with allies.
The tariff proposal, if implemented, would dramatically increase costs for French wine and champagne exports to the United States, potentially impacting one of France’s most iconic industries. European Union officials have signaled readiness to respond with countermeasures if such tariffs are enacted, underscoring the risk of a renewed transatlantic trade dispute.
As of January 20, 2026, neither the White House nor the Élysée Palace has announced any immediate resolution to the standoff, leaving U.S.-French relations at a notably low point amid ongoing global challenges.
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