At least a third of&nbsp;French&nbsp;wine&nbsp;production this year, representing almost two billion euros ($2.4 billion) in sales, will be lost due to a bout of unusually cold early spring weather, a federation said Wednesday.

National Federation of Agricultural Holders' Unions (FNSEA) secretary general Jerome Despey told AFP that the estimate was made after consultations with all the players in the sector.

The rare freezing temperatures that have caused some of the worst damage in decades to crops and vines struck across France earlier this month, with the consequences compounded by the fact the cold snap came after warm weather.

"This is probably the greatest agricultural catastrophe of the beginning of the 21st century," Agriculture Minister Julien Denormandie said on Monday, adding that France has never seen such an frost wave in early spring. The government is preparing an emergency package of measures.

The government is readying an emergency rescue package following rare freezing temperatures that could cause some of the most damage in decades to crops and vines across the country.

From Bordeaux to Burgundy and the Rhone valley to Champagne, winemakers were back out in their fields on Friday inspecting the destruction.&nbsp;

To ward off frost overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday, farmers across the country lit thousands of small fires and candles near their vines or fruit trees.

Some well-heeled vineyards hired helicopters to try and keep the heat close to the ground.

The burning was so intense in the southeast that it led to a layer of smog over the region, including over the city of Lyon. &nbsp;

As well as vines, growers of kiwis, apricots, apples and other fruit have been badly hit along with farmers of other crops such as beet and rapeseed.

During a visit to the Loire&nbsp;wine-making area,&nbsp;French&nbsp;Agriculture Minister Julien Denormandie said it was "an episode of extreme violence which has caused extremely significant damage".

The government has declared an "agricultural disaster", meaning it will begin offering financial support to farmers, and Denormandie called on banks and insurance companies to join in the efforts.

Many&nbsp;wine&nbsp;makers are not insured against the effects of frost because of the cost of the coverage and many producers were already struggling financially.

The Covid-19 pandemic has depressed demand for&nbsp;wine&nbsp;globally because of the closure of restaurants and bars.&nbsp;

Exports to the United States have also been hit by tariffs on&nbsp;French&nbsp;wine&nbsp;imposed by former US president Donald Trump, while the vital British market has also suffered because of Brexit.

A group of 60&nbsp;French&nbsp;MPs from&nbsp;wine-making areas published on open letter Friday urging the government to come to the rescue of producers, saying they "really feared the worst." &nbsp;

The practice of lighting fires or candles near vines or fruit trees to prevent frost forming is a long-standing technique used in early spring when the first green shoots and flowers are vulnerable to the cold.

Some winegrowers also use wind machines to keep frost from setting in.

Others use water sprinklers to deliberately create ice which acts like a mini-igloo around branches, preventing the frost from drying out the leaves.

At least a third of French wine production this year, representing almost two billion euros ($2.4 billion) in sales, will be lost due to a bout of unusually cold early spring weather, a federation said Wednesday.

At least a third of French wine production this year, representing almost two billion euros ($2.4 billion) in sales, will be lost due to a bout of unusually cold early spring weather, a federation said Wednesday. National Federation of Agricultural Holders' Unions (FNSEA) secretary general Jerome Despey told AFP that the estimate was made after consultations with all the players in the sector. The rare freezing temperatures that have caused some of the worst damage in decades to crops and vines struck across France earlier this month, with the consequences compounded by the fact the cold snap came after warm weather. "This is probably the greatest agricultural catastrophe of the beginning of the 21st century," Agriculture Minister Julien Denormandie said on Monday, adding that France has never seen such an frost wave in early spring. The government is preparing an emergency package of measures. The government is readying an emergency rescue package following rare freezing temperatures that could cause some of the most damage in decades to crops and vines across the country. From Bordeaux to Burgundy and the Rhone valley to Champagne, winemakers were back out in their fields on Friday inspecting the destruction. To ward off frost overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday, farmers across the country lit thousands of small fires and candles near their vines or fruit trees. Some well-heeled vineyards hired helicopters to try and keep the heat close to the ground. The burning was so intense in the southeast that it led to a layer of smog over the region, including over the city of Lyon. As well as vines, growers of kiwis, apricots, apples and other fruit have been badly hit along with farmers of other crops such as beet and rapeseed. During a visit to the Loire wine-making area, French Agriculture Minister Julien Denormandie said it was "an episode of extreme violence which has caused extremely significant damage". The government has declared an "agricultural disaster", meaning it will begin offering financial support to farmers, and Denormandie called on banks and insurance companies to join in the efforts. Many wine makers are not insured against the effects of frost because of the cost of the coverage and many producers were already struggling financially. The Covid-19 pandemic has depressed demand for wine globally because of the closure of restaurants and bars. Exports to the United States have also been hit by tariffs on French wine imposed by former US president Donald Trump, while the vital British market has also suffered because of Brexit. A group of 60 French MPs from wine-making areas published on open letter Friday urging the government to come to the rescue of producers, saying they "really feared the worst." The practice of lighting fires or candles near vines or fruit trees to prevent frost forming is a long-standing technique used in early spring when the first green shoots and flowers are vulnerable to the cold. Some winegrowers also use wind machines to keep frost from setting in. Others use water sprinklers to deliberately create ice which acts like a mini-igloo around branches, preventing the frost from drying out the leaves.

A third of French wine production lost due to cold snap: Industry body

US President Donald Trump threatened to slap heavy tariffs on French wine in response to taxes on American tech companies just before heading to France for a summit of G7 leaders.

"Those are great American companies, and frankly, I don't want France going out and taxing our companies. Very unfair," he told reporters outside the White House shortly before boarding his helicopter.

"And if they do that, we'll be taxing their wine or doing something else. We'll be taxing their wine like they've never seen before. That's for us to tax them, not for France to tax them."

US President Donald Trump threatened to slap heavy tariffs on French wine in response to taxes on American tech companies just before heading to France for a summit of G7 leaders.

US President Donald Trump threatened to slap heavy tariffs on French wine in response to taxes on American tech companies just before heading to France for a summit of G7 leaders. "Those are great American companies, and frankly, I don't want France going out and taxing our companies. Very unfair," he told reporters outside the White House shortly before boarding his helicopter. "And if they do that, we'll be taxing their wine or doing something else. We'll be taxing their wine like they've never seen before. That's for us to tax them, not for France to tax them."

Trump threatens tariffs on French wine as he heads to G7

US President Donald Trump on Friday accused his French counterpart<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-has-discussed-iran-nuclear-standoff-with-macron-white-house-234187"> Emmanuel Macron </a>of "foolishness" over a move to tax global tech giants, promising substantial retaliation which he hinted could target French wine.

"France just put a digital tax on our great American technology companies," Trump tweeted about the law passed this month that is set to affect US giants Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
France just put a digital tax on our great American technology companies. If anybody taxes them, it should be their home Country, the USA. We will announce a substantial reciprocal action on Macron’s foolishness shortly. I’ve always said American wine is better than French wine!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1154791664625606657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"If anybody taxes them, it should be their home Country, the USA," he added. "We will announce a substantial reciprocal action on Macron's foolishness shortly. I've always said American wine is better than French wine!"

Earlier, the US president had tweeted that Apple will no longer be given tariff waivers or relief for Mac Pro parts which were made in China.

Trump's comments came after reports the US tech giant was seeking an exemption from tariffs for the high-end computer, which in the past had been made in the United States. Apple is reportedly now shifting production to China.

"Make them in the USA, no tariffs!" the US president tweeted. Apple shares dipped slightly as Trump tweeted.&nbsp;

The move comes amid growing trade frictions between the two economic powers. Trump has threatened to slap punitive tariffs on more goods to press Beijing to accept more imports.

According to reports, Apple has chosen a Taiwanese contractor, Quanta Computer Inc., to manufacture the $6,000 desktop computer near Shanghai. 
&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump on Friday accused his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron of "foolishness" over a move to tax global tech giants, promising substantial retaliation which he hinted could target French wine.

US President Donald Trump on Friday accused his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron of "foolishness" over a move to tax global tech giants, promising substantial retaliation which he hinted could target French wine. "France just put a digital tax on our great American technology companies," Trump tweeted about the law passed this month that is set to affect US giants Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon. France just put a digital tax on our great American technology companies. If anybody taxes them, it should be their home Country, the USA. We will announce a substantial reciprocal action on Macron’s foolishness shortly. I’ve always said American wine is better than French wine! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2019 × "If anybody taxes them, it should be their home Country, the USA," he added. "We will announce a substantial reciprocal action on Macron's foolishness shortly. I've always said American wine is better than French wine!" Earlier, the US president had tweeted that Apple will no longer be given tariff waivers or relief for Mac Pro parts which were made in China. Trump's comments came after reports the US tech giant was seeking an exemption from tariffs for the high-end computer, which in the past had been made in the United States. Apple is reportedly now shifting production to China. "Make them in the USA, no tariffs!" the US president tweeted. Apple shares dipped slightly as Trump tweeted. The move comes amid growing trade frictions between the two economic powers. Trump has threatened to slap punitive tariffs on more goods to press Beijing to accept more imports. According to reports, Apple has chosen a Taiwanese contractor, Quanta Computer Inc., to manufacture the $6,000 desktop computer near Shanghai.

Trump slams Macron over digital tax on US tech giants, threatens 'reciprocal action' against French wine

U.S. President Donald Trump said that the U.S. could impose tariffs on French wines in a live phone interview with CNBC on Monday (June 10).

Trump threatens tariffs on French wine

It was a train that alerted the world to the fact that North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-Un might be in Beijing. The dark green train with yellow piping has been "in the family" for generations.&nbsp;

Kim's father, Kim Jong-Il, did not like flying. So he used the train instead.&nbsp;

News reports say he had fresh lobster delivered to the train everyday, and French wine flown in from Paris. The reports quote foreign officials who had the rare chance of travelling on the train as saying it was possible to order any Korean, Chinese, Russian, French, and Japanese dish on the train.&nbsp;

The elder Kim made about a dozen trips abroad. Most of them to China and all of them by train.&nbsp;

Kim's grandfather and North Korean founder, Kim Il-Sung, took the train all the way to eastern Europe in 1984.&nbsp;

Reports from Kim Jong-Il's time say that when he stepped out in his train, a total of three trains would travel with him. An advance security train that also checks on the condition of the tracks, a train carrying the leader, and a train that follows with additional security and supplies.&nbsp;

The trains' carriages are all bulletproof. That also makes them heavier, which means they travel no faster than 60 kilometres per hour.&nbsp;

And planes and helicopters fly overhead to provide even more security.&nbsp;

The reports say that 20 train stations have been built across the secretive country just for the leader’s personal use.

The reports add that when bored, a group of female entertainers aka lady conductors would sing to Kim Jong-Il in Korean and Russian.

Current news reports say Kim Jong-Un likes Swiss cheese, Cristal champagne, and Hennessy cognac.

It was the green train with yellow piping that alerted the world to the fact that North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-Un might be in Beijing

It was a train that alerted the world to the fact that North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-Un might be in Beijing. The dark green train with yellow piping has been "in the family" for generations. Kim's father, Kim Jong-Il, did not like flying. So he used the train instead. News reports say he had fresh lobster delivered to the train everyday, and French wine flown in from Paris. The reports quote foreign officials who had the rare chance of travelling on the train as saying it was possible to order any Korean, Chinese, Russian, French, and Japanese dish on the train. The elder Kim made about a dozen trips abroad. Most of them to China and all of them by train. Kim's grandfather and North Korean founder, Kim Il-Sung, took the train all the way to eastern Europe in 1984. Reports from Kim Jong-Il's time say that when he stepped out in his train, a total of three trains would travel with him. An advance security train that also checks on the condition of the tracks, a train carrying the leader, and a train that follows with additional security and supplies. The trains' carriages are all bulletproof. That also makes them heavier, which means they travel no faster than 60 kilometres per hour. And planes and helicopters fly overhead to provide even more security. The reports say that 20 train stations have been built across the secretive country just for the leader’s personal use. The reports add that when bored, a group of female entertainers aka lady conductors would sing to Kim Jong-Il in Korean and Russian. Current news reports say Kim Jong-Un likes Swiss cheese, Cristal champagne, and Hennessy cognac.

Kim Jong-Un's train: Fresh lobster, lady conductors & French wine from Paris

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A third of French wine production lost due to cold snap: Industry body

Trump threatens tariffs on French wine as he heads to G7

Trump slams Macron over digital tax on US tech giants, threatens 'reciprocal action' against French wine

Trump threatens tariffs on French wine

Kim Jong-Un's train: Fresh lobster, lady conductors & French wine from Paris