Donald Trump on Monday threatened 200 percent tariffs on French wine and champagne over France's intentions to decline the US leader's invitation to join his "Board of Peace."

The board was originally conceived to oversee the rebuilding of war-torn Gaza, but the charter does not appear to limit its role to the occupied Palestinian territory.

"I'll put a 200 percent tariff on his wines and champagnes. And he'll join. But he doesn't have to join," Trump said, referring to French President Emmanuel Macron.

A source close to Macron told AFP on Monday that France "does not intend to answer favorably" to the invitation.

The board's charter "goes beyond the sole framework of Gaza", the source close to the French president said.

Trump confirmed he had invited his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to join his Board of Peace, after Moscow earlier Monday reported the invite.

"Yes, he's been invited," Trump told a reporter in Florida who asked if he had asked Putin to join the body.

China invited to join Trump's 'Board of Peace'

Beijing also confirmed on Tuesday that China had been invited to join US President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace".

"China has received the United States' invitation," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a regular news briefing, without specifying whether Beijing would accept the invitation.

The board was originally conceived to oversee the rebuilding of war-torn Gaza, but the charter does not appear to limit its role to the occupied Palestinian territory.

Guo said China-US relations had achieved overall stability in the past year, despite a trade war that saw both countries impose tit-for-tat tariffs on each others' products.

"Over the past year, China-US relations have experienced ups and downs, but have maintained overall dynamic stability," Guo told reporters.

"Cooperation between China and the US benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both," he added.

AFP

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