French Prime Minister François Bayrou said the European Union might have mistakenly targeted American whiskey in response to the United States tariffs. Bayrou called for discussions to avoid further harmful tariffs that could impact the French cognac industry.

In his first term, Trump also targeted the alcohol industry. A series of tit-for-tat tariffs hit alcohol products in the U.S. and the EU. The Biden administration suspended those tariffs, but now the industry is once again in the crosshairs. The industry has still been recovering from that first tariff spat.

Trump said he would impose the tariff if the European Union continues with its plan to impose a 50% tariff on whiskey beginning in April.