France's Macron says 'respect over bullies' as Trump threatens 200% tariffs over 'Board of Peace' snub

French president Emmanuel Macron, responded to US Trump's tariff threats, stating, “we do prefer respect over bullies” after the United States President Donald Trump said he will impose a 200% tariff on French wines and Champagnes to pressure French President Emmanuel Macron into joining his ‘Board of Peace.'

“The crazy thing is that we can be put in a situation where we will have to use the anti-coercion instrument towards the US," Macron said at the ongoing Davos Summit on Tuesday, 20 January.

“Did he (Macron) say that (won't join)? Well, nobody wants him because he will be out of the 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,” Donald Trump told reporters.

Trump's threat to France is not new. In March 2025, Donald Trump had threatened to impose 200% tariffs on wine, champagne and other alcoholic beverages from France and other European Union countries, claiming that the EU was “one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the world”.

(This is a developing story. Keep checking for more updates)