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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[–] XOXOX 44 points 6 days ago (2 children)

"Champagne businesses in the U.S."

What an uncultured dumbass.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 6 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Champagne is fermentrd, moonshine is distilled.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 days ago

Relax. We're just throwing hot air around.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 days ago (1 children)

The USA does not recognize Champagne as a protected name

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] -4 points 6 days ago (2 children)

They are calling him uncultured without realizing you can in fact make something in the USA and call it champagne.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I can call Spaghetti with cream cheese and ham Carbonara, I'd still be an uncultured swine for doing so.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 days ago

Uncultured swine. A proper carbonara is made with a bit of pork belly, a bit of smoked presunto, an egg yolk and after mixing in the pasta yoi sprinkle with grated cheese.

[–] ikidd 27 points 6 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 12 points 6 days 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 6 days 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 6 days ago

400% tax on coca cola!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 days 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.

[–] teslasaur 3 points 6 days 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 6 days 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.

[–] teslasaur 1 points 6 days ago

Mersault is like twice the price. Have not found a French substitute yet.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 6 days ago

Those are NOTHING alike. The Ch Ste Michelle will be closer to oaky apple juice whereas theMeursault is going to be very different and 2-3x the price.

The macon is a better choice for location but even those won’t be as sweet.

[–] mstrk 16 points 6 days 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 6 days ago

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

[–] [email protected] 14 points 6 days 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] 8 points 6 days 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] 8 points 6 days 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!

[–] ArchmageAzor 8 points 6 days ago (1 children)

More booze for us, enjoy your prohibition lite.

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

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

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 days 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 6 days ago

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 days ago

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 days ago

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

[–] A_A 68 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week 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] 56 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 12 points 6 days ago (2 children)

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

[–] teslasaur 12 points 6 days ago
[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 days 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 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 days ago

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

[–] Linden 39 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Absolutely nobody will be shocked to learn that Trump owns a winery in Virginia and stands to profit off of this.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 days 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 6 days ago (1 children)

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

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

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

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