US President Trump wants to tariff EU wine, reiterates interest in Greenland

After flubbing his planned doubling of tariffs on Canada, which saw Canada poised to lash back with stiff increases in the cost of energy exported from the province of Ontario to the US, US President Donald Trump is shifting his tariff focus to the European Union, but maintaining the same playbook.

Donald Trump's brief standoff against Canada saw the US's neighbor to the north make zero concessions. Canada is now on pace to impose a strategic package of tariffs against key US goods in retaliation for the US's steel and import tariffs that went into effect this week, and trade terms under the USMCA trade agreement remain unchanged. Now, President Trump is looking to strong-arm the European Union, which imposed its own retaliatory tariffs on US whisky products in response to the US administration's steel tariffs.

Donald Trump threatened via social media post early Thursday that he would seek to impose his 200% tariff on European wines and champagne. Donald Trump then resumed posting on his Truth Social account, again declaring that eggs, Crude Oil, and interest rates were all "down", while also trying to rebrand the US's "Free Trade" as "Stupid Trade" (sic).

President Trump also returned to his idea of taking Greenland, an autonomous territory, from Denmark, either intentionally or accidentally referring to it as an "annexation", while also going out of his way to cast a rosy light on his personal relationship with North Korean dictator Kim Jung Un.

Key quotes

US to shortly place 200% tariff on EU wine.

If the EU tariff is not removed immediately, the US will retaliate.

Egg prices are down, oil down, interest rates are down.

The US doesn't have Free Trade. We have "Stupid Trade." The Entire World is ripping us off.

Canada needs America, America does not need Canada.

Witkoff is in serious discussions in Russia.

I'm getting word things are going ok in Russia.

Hopefully we should have an idea today how we're doing.

We're discussing land with Ukraine.

There's a powerplant involved.

Details of final agreement have been discussed.

Putin put out a very promising statement but it wasn't complete.

If Russia isn't there, it's disappointing for the world.

We don't need Canada's cars, energy or lumber.

I won't bend on Canada metals or April 2nd tariffs.

A Government shutdown could delay the tax bill.

Shutdown might lead to very, very high taxes.

Facebook is going to invest $60 bln by end of year.

EU is very nasty. EU taking billions from American businesses.

The EU and China are treating us very badly.

I inherited egg price problems.

NATO Sec. Gen. Rutte could be very instrumental on Greenland.

I think the annexation of Greenland will happen.

We're going to have to make a deal on Greenland.

We've been dealing with Denmark and Greenland.

I don't think Russia will attack other allies. We'll make sure it doesn't happen.

I still have a good relationship with the North Korean leader.