This move by Trump was seen by French Foreign Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin as the start of a trade war.

In a social media post Thursday morning, President Donald Trump threatened to impose a major tariff on France and other European countries in response to a 50% retaliatory tariff on American whiskey.

Industry representatives warned that a 200 percent tax on European wines and spirits would halt shipments to the United States and wipe €4 billion off France’s trade balance.