Trump Threatens 100% Tariff on French Champagne and Wines Over France’s Tech Tax Ahead of G7

In an interview published by the New York Post on Monday, President Donald Trump warned he would impose a 100% tariff on French champagne and wine imports unless France repeals its digital services tax on U.S. technology companies. The comments arrived hours before Mr. Trump’s trip to France for the upcoming G7 summit, raising the prospect of a direct trade confrontation with President Emmanuel Macron.

What the dispute covers

France’s digital services tax levies 3% on large multinational tech platforms that report more than €750 million (roughly US$870 million) in global revenue and at least €25 million (about US$29 million) in France. Aimed at major companies including Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft, the measure is commonly known as the "GAFAM tax." French finance officials say the levy generated roughly $700 million last year.

The President’s warning

'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. All [Macron] has to do is get rid of the sales tax, and he wouldn't have that kind of pressure.'

Trump framed the threat as leverage to compel France to remove the levy on American tech firms. The United States is a key market for French wine: it accounts for roughly one-fifth of France's global wine exports, estimated at about $2.38 billion in 2025 — a sector that would be vulnerable to steep U.S. tariffs.

Context and precedent

This is not the first time the administration has used alcohol imports as bargaining chips. In early 2025, Mr. Trump threatened a 200% tariff on "wines, champagnes and alcoholic products" from the European Union after the EU proposed retaliatory duties — including a 50% tariff on American whiskey. Officials in France and wine producers are closely watching potential fallout from new U.S. measures.

Internationally, similar trade measures have had sharp effects: after a dispute over electric vehicle subsidies, China imposed duties of up to 34.9% on European brandy last July, dealing heavy damage to French cognac exports. Some major houses, including Pernod Ricard, LVMH and Rémy Cointreau, avoided those Chinese duties by agreeing to minimum pricing terms.

What happens next

The G7 summit will be held in Évian-les-Bains, France, from June 15–17. Although Mr. Trump did not name the summit directly in his interview, the timing and tone of his comments suggest the issue may be raised during talks between leaders. Any move to impose large tariffs would carry political and economic consequences for producers, global wine markets and U.S.-France trade relations.

Reporting note: This article summarizes comments published by the New York Post and places them in the context of trade and wine-sector data.