US President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to impose 200 per cent tariffs on wine, champagne and other alcoholic products from European Union countries, in retaliation against the bloc’s planned levies on US-produced whiskey.

Trump has launched trade wars against competitors and partners alike since taking office, wielding tariffs as a tool to pressure countries on commerce and other policy issues.

His latest salvo was in response to Wednesday’s unveiling by the European Union of tariffs on $28 billion in US goods in stages from April – measures that in turn retaliated against Trump’s earlier levies against steel and aluminum imports.

“If this Tariff is not removed immediately, the U.S. will shortly place a 200% Tariff on all WINES, CHAMPAGNES, & ALCOHOLIC PRODUCTS COMING OUT OF FRANCE AND OTHER E.U. REPRESENTED COUNTRIES,” Trump posted Thursday on his Truth Social platform.

Trump also renewed his harsh criticism of the bloc, singling out a 50 per cent levy on US whiskey as “nasty.”