US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 200% tariff on French wines and champagnes amid reports that French President Emmanuel Macron declined to join his proposed “Board of Peace” initiative.
Trump linked the tariff threat directly to Macron’s apparent refusal to participate in the body, which the US president has pitched as a forum to resolve global conflicts.
Under the plan, longer-term members would be required to pay $1 billion each (about €857,170,000) into a fund overseen by Trump as chairman.
What did Trump say about wine tariffs?
Asked about Macron’s decision not to join the board, Trump dismissed the French president’s position.
“Did he say that? Well, nobody wants him because he will be out of office very soon,” Trump said.
“I’ll put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes, and he’ll join, but he doesn’t have to join,” Trump said.
A source close to Macron told the AFP news agency on Monday said France “does not intend to answer favourably” to the invitation. AFP also cited a source close to the French president on Tuesday saying the tariff threat “to influence our foreign policy” was “unacceptable and ineffective.”
Some 60 national leaders have been invited to join so far.
What is the Board of Peace plan?
Trump first proposed creating the Board of Peace last September when outlining plans to end the war in Gaza. Invitations sent to world leaders last week described a broader mandate to address conflicts worldwide.
According to a draft charter seen by the Reuters news agency, the US administration has asked prospective members to contribute $1 billion in cash if they want their membership to extend beyond three years.
Other governments have reacted cautiously to the proposal, with diplomats warning the initiative could weaken the role of the United Nations in conflict resolution.
Trump also said on Monday that he had invited Vladimir Putin to join the board, adding that the Russian leader had already received an invitation.
Separately, Macron was reported to have sent a private message to Trump offering to organize a G7 summit in Paris this Thursday, to which Russia could be invited to join on the sidelines. Macron also proposed inviting Ukraine, as well as Denmark amid the US president’s threat to take over Greenland.
Edited by: Karl Sexton