WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened a 200% tariff on European wine, Champagne and spirits if the European Union begins its planned tariff on U.S. whiskey.

The European import tax, which was unveiled in response to steel and aluminum tariffs by the U.S. administration, is expected to go into effect April 1, just ahead of separate reciprocal tariffs that Trump plans to place on the EU.

But Trump, in a morning social post, vowed a new escalation in his trade war if the EU goes forward with a 50% tax on U.S. whiskey.

“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,” he wrote. “This will be great for the Wine and Champagne businesses in the U.S.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday that the EU trade commissioner would talk Friday with his U.S. counterpart.

“We don’t like tariffs because we think tariffs are taxes and they are bad for business and they are bad for consumers,” she said. “We have always said at the same time that we will defend our interests. We’ve said it, and we’ve shown it, but at the same time I also want to emphasize that we are open for negotiations.”

The president has defined his opening weeks in the White House with near-daily drama regarding tariffs, saying that taxing imports might cause some economic pain but would eventually lead to more domestic manufacturing and greater respect for America.

But with the EU and Trump now tussling over alcohol tariffs, the impact of a trade war could surface directly in ways consumers could quickly see. It’s unclear how the import taxes would be absorbed among vintners, distillers, brewers, distributors, retailers and consumers.

Because of Trump’s threat, a previously untariffed $15 bottle of Italian Prosecco could possibly increase in price to $45. Similarly, Europe’s response to Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs means that the cost of a 30-euro bottle of bourbon in Paris could increase to 45 euros.

Gabriel Picard, who heads the French Federation of Exporters of Wines and Spirits, said 200% tariffs would be “a hammer blow” for the sector. He said the U.S. market is worth $4.3 billion annually for French exporters of wines and spirits.

“Not a single bottle will continue to be expedited if 200% tariffs are applied to our products. All exports to the United States will come to a total, total, halt,” he said.

As of now, Europe seems unwilling to back down.

“Trump is escalating the trade war he has chosen,” Laurent Saint-Martin, the French delegate minister for foreign trade, said on X. “France, together with the European Commission and our partners, is determined to fight back. We will not give in to threats and will always protect our industries.”

Still, Trump feels aggrieved by the EU, complaining to reporters on Thursday about the lack of U.S. auto sales there as well as the lawsuits and fines filed against Facebook parent Meta and Google.

“They are suing all of these companies, and they’re taking billions of dollars out of American companies,” Trump said. “And I guess they’re using it to run Europe or something.”

U.S. whiskey makers, meanwhile, encouraged Trump to broker a deal.

“We urge President Trump to secure a spirits agreement with the EU to get us back to zero-for-zero tariffs, which will create U.S. jobs and increase manufacturing and exports for the American hospitality sector,” Chris Swonger, president and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council, said in a statement.

When Europe responded to Trump’s 2018 tariffs with a 25% tax on U.S. whiskey, exports to the EU fell by 20% through 2021, according to the Distilled Spirits Council.