In a scathing attack on its allies over the imposition of tariffs, United States President Donald Trump said that the “European Union is as bad as China” in its trade policies.
Trump appeared on a news channel where the host asked if he’d considered teaming up with U.S. allies to combat China’s trade policies. “The European Union is possibly as bad as China, just smaller. It’s terrible what they do to us,” Trump said.
The US President lambasted other countries that were having trade deficits with the US, saying that “each of those nations should be subject to tariffs, regardless of broader alliances.
“I love those countries, Germany, and all of the countries. Scotland. … But they treat us very badly. They treat us very unfairly,” he added, noting that “my parents were born in the European Union.” Trump’s mother was born in the United Kingdom, while his father was born in New York City.
The US announced to impose 25 and 10 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium respectively on three of its biggest trading partners – Canada, Mexico and the EU on May 31. In retaliation, the EU and Canada have slapped tariffs in a tit-for-tat move.
Last month, the EU imposed tariffs on American goods worth USD 3 billion such as yachts, bourbon and motorcycles.
The Trump administration’s policy has prompted other nations to implement retaliatory tariffs, raising concerns of a global trade war. Trump has repeatedly doubled down on the policy, claiming that it will eventually prompt other leaders to come to the bargaining table.
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