Make Money

Scotch whisky, French wine and Italian cheeses are about to become much more expensive, after President Donald Trump imposed some $7.5 billion worth of tariffs on E.U. goods.

The new tariffs of 25% came into force at just past midnight on Friday, the latest salvo in Trump's trade wars around the globe. They add to tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum imports from the E.U. in place since 2018.

The U.S. is the E.U.'s biggest export market for food and drink, with 16% of all exports flowing there.

The E.U. responded by saying it would impose its own tariffs "in due course" on the U.S. airplane manufacturer Boeing.

Here are some products targeted by the new tariffs

The list of products released by the U.S. Trade Representative runs to 20 pages, and includes very specific descriptions of products targeted. Here is a generalized list of some of them. All tariffs are 25% and apply to the whole E.U. except where otherwise specified:

• Single-malt whiskies from Scotland and Ireland
• Airplanes heavier than 30,000 kg (10%)
• Men's and women's clothing from the U.K.
• Dairy products, including butter, yogurt, and cheeses including parmesan
• Fruit, including fresh fruit, dried fruit and fruit juice
• Pork, including prepared or preserved pork
• Olives and olive oil from France, Germany, Spain and the U.K.
• Wine from France, Germany, Spain and the U.K.
• Mussels and clams
• Coffee—including decaf—from Germany
• Metal tools, including pneumatic hand tools, from Germany
• Books from Germany and the U.K.
• Biscuits, waffles and wafers from Germany and the U.K.
• Clothing and bed linen from the U.K.

The U.K. is scheduled to leave the E.U. on Oct. 31, but because each country is named individually in the Trade Representative's notice, the tariffs will continue to apply.

Why did Trump impose the tariffs?