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Trump reignites trade war, seeks new leverage against judges
🇩🇿 Algeria /Economy & Trade

Trump reignites trade war, seeks new leverage against judges

From El Watan · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Donald Trump is reviving trade war threats, targeting France and its wine industry with potential 100% tariffs over a digital services tax.
  • This move comes after the U.S. Supreme Court limited Trump's ability to impose tariffs by invoking emergency economic laws.
  • France, through its Economy Minister, expressed hope to avoid escalation but warned of retaliatory measures if necessary, citing the EU's arsenal of responses.

Donald Trump has reignited trade tensions, threatening 100% tariffs on French wines and champagnes. The U.S. president cited France's digital services tax, often called the "Gafam tax," as the reason for the potential escalation. Trump stated he would have "no other choice" but to proceed if France did not repeal its tax.

I will have no other choice

— Donald TrumpRegarding the potential escalation of tariffs on French products if France does not repeal its digital services tax.

This renewed pressure comes as transatlantic trade diplomacy already grapples with a recent U.S.-EU trade deal. The U.S. Supreme Court's February decision significantly curtailed Trump's tariff powers, ruling he overstepped his authority by using an emergency economic law (IEEPA) to impose previous surcharges. This ruling affects approximately $166 billion in tariffs that might need to be refunded.

Otherwise, obviously, we will have to find retaliatory measures, and there are some, we have the arsenal.

— Roland LescureResponding to the threat of U.S. tariffs and the possibility of EU retaliation.

French Economy Minister Roland Lescure expressed hope on RTL that a new U.S. offensive could be avoided. However, he cautioned that the European Union possesses tools for retaliation if necessary. Lescure highlighted the U.S. president's "unpredictability" while emphasizing the EU's readiness to respond.

the unpredictability of the American president

— Roland LescureDescribing Donald Trump's approach to trade policy.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Watan in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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