File photo of U.S. President Donald Trump with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump said he will impose a 200% tariff on French wines and champagnes, a move he claimed would push French President Emmanuel Macron to join Mr. Trump’s Board of Peace initiative aimed at resolving global conflicts.
When asked by a reporter about Mr. Macron saying he will not join the board, Mr. Trump said, “Did he say that? Well, nobody wants him because he will be out of office very soon.”
“I’ll put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes, and he’ll join, but he doesn’t have to join,” Mr. Trump said.
France intends to decline the invitation to join the initiative, at this stage, a source close to Mr. Macron said on Monday (January 19).
Mr. Trump originally proposed establishing the Board of Peace when he announced last September his plan to end the war in Gaza. But an invitation sent to world leaders last week outlines a broad role ending conflicts globally.
A draft charter sent to about 60 countries by the U.S. administration calls for members to contribute $1 billion in cash if they want their membership to last more than three years, according to the document seen by Reuters.
Governments reacted cautiously on Sunday (January 18) to Mr. Trump’s invitation, a plan that diplomats said could harm the work of the United Nations.
On Monday (January 19), Mr. Trump also said he has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to be a member of the peace board. “He’s been invited,” Mr. Trump said.
Published – January 20, 2026 11:20 am IST
