G7 Summit Preview: Trump Targets France, Says Wine Is “Next on the Negotiation Table”

Ahead of his arrival in Évian-les-Bains, France, for the upcoming G7 summit, US President Donald Trump on Monday warned that Washington would have “no choice” but to impose a 100% tariff on French wines if Paris does not withdraw its digital services tax on American technology companies. Speaking to the New York Post, Trump said he had already conveyed the warning directly to French President Emmanuel Macron, urging France to scrap its 3% tax on major US technology firms or face significant trade retaliation targeting one of its most iconic export industries. “I asked him not to charge American companies, and if they do, I have no choice but to charge a 100% tariff on all champagnes and all wines coming out of France,” Trump told the newspaper. “All Macron has to do is get rid of the sales tax, and he wouldn’t have that kind of pressure.” The remarks come at a sensitive moment ahead of the G7 summit, where leaders of major economies are expected to discuss global trade imbalances, digital taxation, and ongoing efforts to stabilise international economic cooperation. France, along with several European Union members, has supported digital services taxes aimed at large multinational technology firms, arguing that traditional tax frameworks do not adequately capture profits generated in their jurisdictions. The United States, however, has repeatedly criticised such measures, calling them discriminatory against American companies. Trade analysts note that renewed tariff threats could heighten tensions between Washington and Paris at a time when coordination among G7 nations is considered crucial for addressing global economic uncertainty. The White House has not issued an additional statement beyond the President’s remarks, while French officials are yet to formally respond.