US President Donald Trump has warned of imposing severe trade penalties on France amid disagreements over the Gaza crisis, threatening tariffs of up to 200 percent on French wine and champagne if Paris refuses to join an international initiative aimed at overseeing a ceasefire in Gaza.
Speaking to reporters in Miami on Tuesday, Trump said the French government, led by President Emmanuel Macron, was showing reluctance to participate in the proposed international body—known as the Board of Peace—designed to monitor and enforce a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Trump indicated that the United States could use economic pressure to influence France’s position. “Macron’s political future is limited,” he said, noting that the French president’s term ends in May 2027 and that French law bars him from seeking another term. “In the end, he will join. He’s not being forced—but the option is there,” Trump added.
The Board of Peace initiative received approval from the United Nations Security Council last November. Its stated objectives include ensuring the implementation of a Gaza ceasefire, facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid, and preventing a renewed outbreak of violence in the besieged territory.
According to Trump, invitations to participate in the initiative have already been extended to Russian President Vladimir Putin, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signaling Washington’s push to give the body broad international backing.
Trump’s comments have raised concerns in diplomatic and trade circles, with analysts warning that the threat of punitive tariffs could further strain transatlantic relations at a time of heightened global instability. Critics argue that linking humanitarian diplomacy to trade sanctions risks deepening divisions among US allies, while supporters see the move as part of Trump’s hardline approach to foreign policy negotiations.
The French government has not yet issued an official response to Trump’s remarks.