Trump as Capo Pazzo

Pazzo - Italian for crazy, in this case he has threatened Tuscan wines with import tariffs that would result in a $20 bottle becoming a $60 bottle, so American importers have frozen orders from Tuscany until the threat is either carried out or abandoned. Does anyone know why a 200% tariff is even being considered? Or what Italy (and France and Spain) have done to inflame the presidential ire?

I must have missed it in all the other news. March 30 NYT page 6.

[David M. Bueker]

200% was a way to get headlines, and try to drive the EU to the table, as well as back off their tariffs on U.S. bourbon. The EU backed off the bourbon tariffs, but have not come to beg for scraps at Trump’s table at McDonald’s. Now there’s the April 2 “deadline” for the U.S. to announce its across the board tariffs. We shall see.

[Jenise]

It was Trump's retaliatory response to Europe's tarriff on American whiskey.