US President Donald Trump yesterday threatened to impose 200% customs duties on imported spirits - wine and champagne - from France because of his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron's refusal to join his «Peace Council».
«I will increase to 200% the customs duties on their wines and champagnes. And it will be included. But they don't have to join,» he told reporters in Florida.
Sources close to French President Macron told Agence France-Presse yesterday that Paris did not intend to «give a positive follow-up» at this stage to Washington's challenge to the French head of state to become a member of the Republican tycoon's «Peace Council».
What will be the shape of D. Trump's “Peace Council”
Donald Trump wants to set up a «Peace Council», controlled by him, to resolve conflicts around the world, competing with the UN, whose permanent posts would cost a billion euros, according to an official document obtained by AFP.
What is it?;
The White House had announced the establishment of a Peace Council as part of the agreement to end the war in the Gaza Strip.
Since the weekend, several countries have started to announce that they have received an invitation to participate in this Council, including Germany, France and Canada. But beyond the traditional US allies, other countries, such as Russia, have also received an invitation.
But the draft «charter» of the Council reveals that it seeks to have more and broader powers and mission beyond Gaza and seems to be promoted as a replacement for the UN.
Send to
«The Peace Council is an international organization whose purpose is to promote stability, restore credible and legitimate governance and guarantee lasting peace in all areas affected or threatened by conflict», says the preface to the text sent to the countries invited to participate in the Council.
The eight-page document criticises from the outset «approaches and institutions that have too often failed», a clear reference to the UN, and calls for «the courage» for countries to move away from them. At the same time, it stresses «the need for a more flexible and effective international peace organisation».
Mighty Trump
Trump will be «the first president of the Peace Council», whose powers will be broad: he alone has the power to «invite» other heads of state and government to join the Council and can withdraw their membership, unless there is a veto supported by «a two-thirds majority of member states».
Also, his presidency seems to be for life. He can ’appoint a successor« »at any time« and cannot be replaced unless he »voluntarily resigns« or is deemed »incompetent« by the entire »executive board« of the organisation, which he himself constitutes.
Although the decisions are taken «by a majority of the member states», each of which has «one vote», they are then «subject to the approval of the president», which in practice means that Trump has a veto and also controls the agenda.
Cost
«Each Member State shall have a maximum term of office of three years from the entry into force of these Statutes, which may be renewed by the President.
This three-year term does not apply to member states that will pay more than one billion dollars in cash to the Peace Council in the first year after the entry into force of the Charter,» the text adds, without giving further clarification.
Which countries?;
The White House has not released the list of countries invited to participate in the Peace Council. Several capitals have announced that they have received an invitation, but not all of them have specified whether or not they intend to accept it.
In addition, yesterday Trump confirmed that he had invited his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
France «cannot continue» at this stage, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said last night, while the German government said it must «coordinate» with its partners.
In response to Paris' refusal, Trump threatened to impose 200% tariffs on French wines and champagnes.
Among the other countries that have received an invitation are Greece, Italy, Hungary, Albania, Argentina, Brazil, Brazil, Paraguay, Egypt, Jordan, Slovenia, Poland, Turkey and India,
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was also invited but has not responded, a spokesman said.
The King of Morocco will participate in the Peace Council as a «founding member».
When?;
According to the Peace Council's «charter», it will «enter into force» when «three states» sign it.
Paris: Trump's threats of 200% tariffs on French wines and champagnes are unacceptable and ineffective
US President Donald Trump's threats to impose 200% tariffs on French wines and champagnes are «unacceptable» and «ineffective», French President Emmanuel Macron's entourage reacted today, speaking to AFP.
«As we always stress, tariff threats aimed at influencing our foreign policy are unacceptable and ineffective,» Macron's entourage pointed out.
Trump threatened to impose tariffs after Macron refused to participate in the «Peace Council», an initiative of the US president with a still unclear mission and role, which seems to want to be an alternative to the UN.
«It is a threat, at this stage, unacceptable, of unimaginable cruelty and obviously it cannot be left without a reaction not only from France but from the whole EU», reacted French Agriculture Minister Ani Genevard, speaking to TF1.
«This threat is targeting a specific sector, that of viticulture, which does not need it because it is already facing difficulties and is a reference point for French agriculture,» he said.
French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard called the US threats of tariff increases unacceptable, violent and ineffective
France's Agriculture Minister Ani Genevard today described as unacceptable, violent and ineffective the threats of tariff increases by US President Donald Trump, who said that, following French President Emmanuel Macron's refusal to join the US-inspired Gaza Peace Council, he intends to impose tariff increases of 200% on imports of wine and champagne from France.
The French minister referred to blackmail practices, saying that there are mechanisms of resistance and that the Europeans should take responsibility.
French exports of wine and champagne to the US amounted to €3.8 billion in 2024 and account for about a quarter of total French exports.
