French Finance Minister Eric Lombard has called the escalating US-EU trade war “idiotic” and plans to travel to the US in the coming days to try to de-escalate the situation. The move comes after US President Donald Trump threatened to slap 200% tariffs on European alcoholic drinks, including wine and champagne.
Lombard’s comments came after the EU announced its own retaliatory measures against Washington’s blanket steel duties. “We need to talk to the Americans to bring the tension back down,” Lombard said in a phone conversation with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
The US has launched trade wars against competitors and partners since taking office, using tariffs as a tool to pressure countries on commerce and policy issues. The EU has responded by unveiling tariffs on $28 billion in US goods, including bourbon, boats, and motorbikes.
European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union would defend its interests but was open to negotiations with the US over escalating tariffs. “Tariffs are taxes that are bad for business and worse for consumers,” she said, adding that they disrupt supply chains and bring uncertainty to the economy.
France exported nearly $5.2 billion worth of wine and champagne to the US in 2023, according to the World Trade Organization. Lombard’s visit to the US aims to ease tensions and find a peaceful resolution to the trade war.
Source: https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250314-french-finance-minister-calls-trade-war-idiotic-plans-us-trip