U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick breaks down reasoning behind a plethora of tariffs, reacts to commerce criticism and divulges the last word purpose for President Donald Trump’s negotiation ways.
President Donald Trump says the U.S. is concerned in “Stupid Trade,” not “Free Trade.”
Trump made the comment on his Fact Social account Thursday after threatening to impose a 200% tariff on alcohol merchandise from France and different European nations, exacerbating the commerce warfare amongst U.S. allies.
“The U.S. doesn’t have Free Trade. We have ‘Stupid Trade.’ The Entire World is RIPPING US OFF!!!” Trump wrote.
An hour earlier than that message, Trump stated “The European Union, one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the World, which was formed for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the United States, has just put a nasty 50% Tariff on Whisky.
TRUMP CLAIMS IRELAND’S TAX SYSTEM LURED US PHARMA, THREATENS TO ESCALATE EU TRADE WAR
President Donald Trump walks across the South Lawn to board Marine One at the White House on March 7, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images / Getty Images)
“If this Tariff isn’t eliminated instantly, 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. This will likely be nice for the Wine and Champagne companies within the U.S,” he added.
French Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin responded to Trump’s post on Thursday, saying the country will protect its industries.
COMMERCE SECRETARY HOWARD LUTNICK DEFENDS TRUMP’S TARIFF ENDGAME AGAINST RECESSION FEARS
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said “nothing” will stop Trump’s tariff endgame on “Varney & Co.” on Wednesday. (Samuel Corum/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Trump “is launching the escalation within the commerce warfare he selected to begin,” Saint-Martin said in a post on X that was translated to English. “France stays decided to reply with the European Fee and our companions.”
The Trump administration has also been engaged in back-and-forth tariffs with Canada this week, a country the president described as “one of many highest tariffing nations wherever on the planet.”
President Donald Trump speaks with members of the media on the South Garden earlier than boarding Marine One on the White Home in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 28. (Reuters/Nathan Howard / Reuters)
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Canada introduced $21 billion in extra tariffs in opposition to the U.S. on Wednesday after Trump’s new 25% tariffs on metal and aluminum went into impact.
FOX Enterprise’ Daniella Genovese contributed to this report.
