Trump threatens French wine tariff over 'Board of Peace' snub

WASHINGTON: Donald Trump on Monday threatened 200 percent tariffs on French wine and champagne over France’s intentions to decline the US leader’s invitation to join his “Board of Peace.”

The board was originally conceived to oversee the rebuilding of war-torn Gaza, but the charter does not appear to limit its role to the occupied Palestinian territory.

“I’ll put a 200 percent tariff on his wines and champagnes. And he’ll join. But he doesn’t have to join,” Trump said, referring to French President Emmanuel Macron.

A source close to Macron told AFP on Monday that France “does not intend to answer favorably” to the invitation.

The board’s charter “goes beyond the sole framework of Gaza”, the source close to the French president said.

Trump confirmed he had invited his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to join his Board of Peace, after the Moscow earlier Monday reported the invite.

“Yes, he’s been invited,” Trump told a reporter in Florida who asked if he had asked Putin to join the body.

Trump said he thought European leaders would not “push back too much” on his attempt to buy Greenland.

“I don’t think they’re gonna push back too much. We have to have it. They have to have this done,” he told a reporter in Florida who asked what Trump planned to say to European leaders who opposed his plans.