Donald Trump threatened France with imposing 200% tariffs on wine and champagne imports in order to pressure French President Emmanuel Macron to join the “Peace Council” initiative he proposed, while France said it would refuse membership. A draft charter for the council’s funding system called on member states to contribute one billion dollars. Trump also invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to join the council.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose 200% tariffs on French wine and champagne imports, describing the move as one that would push Macron to join the “Peace Council,” which aims to help end global conflicts.
When asked by a journalist about Macron’s comment that he would not join the council, Trump replied, “Did he say that? Well, nobody wants him because he will be leaving office very soon,” according to Reuters.
Trump added, “I will impose 200% tariffs on French wine and champagne. He (Macron) will join the council, but he doesn’t have to.”
A source close to Macron said on Monday that “France intends at this stage to reject the invitation to join the initiative.”
Trump originally proposed the creation of the Peace Council when he announced his plan last September to end the war in Gaza. However, invitations were sent to world leaders last week outlining a broader role for ending conflicts globally.
According to a draft charter sent by the U.S. administration to about 60 countries, members would be required to contribute one billion dollars in cash if they wanted their membership to last more than three years.
Governments reacted cautiously to Trump’s invitation, with diplomats warning that the plan could “harm the work of the United Nations.”
Trump also said on Monday that he had “invited his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to be a member of the Peace Council.”