Trump Tariff War: Key News
Central Report
(New York Post, Washington, June 15) The New York Post reported today that former U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose a 100% tariff on French wine and champagne exports to the United States unless Paris repeals its digital services tax (DST), introduced several years ago on technology companies.
France has levied a 3% digital services tax (DST) since 2019 on multinational technology firms earning revenue from operations within the country. The tax targets U.S. corporations such as Facebook, Amazon, Apple, and Alphabet, Google’s parent company.
French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to meet with Trump today, ahead of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Evian-les-Bains, a spa resort on the shores of Lake Geneva. According to reports, Trump has asked Macron to "stop taxing American companies."
Citing Trump, the report quoted him as saying: "If they insist on doing this, I have no choice but to impose a 100% tariff on all champagne and wine exported from France. Macron can avoid this pressure simply by repealing this digital sales tax."
Gabriel Picard, president of the French Wine and Spirits Exporters Association (FEVS), called for maintaining a "balanced and constructive trade relationship between France and the United States, in the interest of mutual economic benefit."
"This dispute goes beyond our control," Picard told Agence France-Presse (AFP), "although our businesses may be directly affected… This new threat is bad news for an industry that heavily relies on exports."
The United States is the largest importer of French wine and spirits. According to FEVS statistics, the U.S. accounted for 21% of total exports last year.
French and European wines exported to the U.S. are currently subject to a 15% tariff, up from the previous 10%. FEVS also reported that French wine and spirits exports to the U.S. declined sharply by 21% last year. (Compiled by Hung Chi-Yuan) 1150615
FACT BOX
- Source: CNA (Central News Agency)
- Category: Taiwan
- Organizations: Facebook / Amazon / Apple