In response, the European Fee on Wednesday stated it might reimpose tariffs on iconic American merchandise similar to Harley-Davidson bikes, denims and bourbon. Trump’s response arrived shortly as, the next day, he threatened to slap a 200 p.c tariff on all “wines, champagne and alcoholic merchandise” from France and different EU international locations.
Bayrou recommended that the Fee was flawed in selecting the merchandise on its retaliation record. The European Fee “reused a really previous record with out re-reading it, because it ought to have completed,” Bayrou stated.
His feedback appear to suggest that Trump threatened to hit the EU’s alcohol sector as a result of Brussels determined to particularly hit bourbon, amongst different merchandise.
Bayrou confused that France’s cognac sector dangers once more to be taken hostage of the transatlantic commerce rigidity at a second wherein it’s already a collateral sufferer of one other commerce spat between the EU and China. Beijing final 12 months launched a commerce probe in opposition to imports of European brandy (together with France’s cognac) in response to EU duties on Chinese language electrical autos.
Bayrou met cognac producers on Friday. “They’re below the double hearth of China on one aspect, and of the US on the opposite,” he stated.
The Chinese language probe shall be one of many high information on the agenda of France’s International Minister Jean-Noël Barrot as he’s set to journey to China earlier than the top of March.
