Trump maintains stance on EU tariffs, insists on energy purchases
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the previously planned tariffs on imports from the European Union (EU) will be implemented as scheduled. He urged the bloc to increase its purchase of American energy to help diminish the U.S. trade deficit.
TroibNews 
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that the planned tariffs on European Union imports will be implemented as expected, insisting that the EU increase its purchase of American energy to help decrease the U.S. trade deficit.
Trump dismissed the EU's proposal for "zero-for-zero" tariffs on industrial goods with the United States.
"No, it's not," Trump stated in the Oval Office when asked if the deal, proposed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier that day, was sufficient.
He further asserted that the EU should boost its imports of U.S. oil and gas, warning that failure to do so would lead to tariffs on EU exports, including cars and machinery.
In response, a European Union spokesperson noted, "The EU is committed to phasing out energy imports from Russia and diversifying our sources of supply." The EU currently obtains 47 percent of its liquefied natural gas and 17 percent of its oil imports from the United States.
Trump's comments come amidst rising global trade tensions. Economies around the world have threatened trade wars as Trump's extensive tariffs announced last week heightened concerns about a potential global economic downturn and significant price increases for various goods in the U.S. market.
"They don’t take our cars, they don’t take our farm products, they take almost nothing and we take everything from them. Millions of cars, tremendous amounts of food and farm products," Trump said to reporters regarding the EU, following discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who attempted to persuade Trump to lower the 17 percent tariffs on Israeli products imposed by the U.S.
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the United States faced a $208.7 billion goods trade deficit with the EU in 2023, a disparity that Trump has frequently cited as proof that European countries exploit the U.S.
To underscore his firm stance, Trump declared, "This is permanent." The president has rebuffed suggestions to pause or reassess the tariffs amid ongoing negotiations.
The European Commission pointed out that it imposes an average tariff of only 1 percent on U.S. products entering the EU market. It claimed U.S. authorities collected approximately 7 billion euros in tariffs on EU goods in 2023, compared to the EU's collection of 3 billion euros from U.S. products.
European officials are already preparing counteractions. Von der Leyen stated, "As the United States is applying tariffs worth $28 billion, we are responding with countermeasures worth 26 billion euros," equivalent to about $28 billion.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
Trump dismissed the EU's proposal for "zero-for-zero" tariffs on industrial goods with the United States.
"No, it's not," Trump stated in the Oval Office when asked if the deal, proposed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier that day, was sufficient.
He further asserted that the EU should boost its imports of U.S. oil and gas, warning that failure to do so would lead to tariffs on EU exports, including cars and machinery.
In response, a European Union spokesperson noted, "The EU is committed to phasing out energy imports from Russia and diversifying our sources of supply." The EU currently obtains 47 percent of its liquefied natural gas and 17 percent of its oil imports from the United States.
Trump's comments come amidst rising global trade tensions. Economies around the world have threatened trade wars as Trump's extensive tariffs announced last week heightened concerns about a potential global economic downturn and significant price increases for various goods in the U.S. market.
"They don’t take our cars, they don’t take our farm products, they take almost nothing and we take everything from them. Millions of cars, tremendous amounts of food and farm products," Trump said to reporters regarding the EU, following discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who attempted to persuade Trump to lower the 17 percent tariffs on Israeli products imposed by the U.S.
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the United States faced a $208.7 billion goods trade deficit with the EU in 2023, a disparity that Trump has frequently cited as proof that European countries exploit the U.S.
To underscore his firm stance, Trump declared, "This is permanent." The president has rebuffed suggestions to pause or reassess the tariffs amid ongoing negotiations.
The European Commission pointed out that it imposes an average tariff of only 1 percent on U.S. products entering the EU market. It claimed U.S. authorities collected approximately 7 billion euros in tariffs on EU goods in 2023, compared to the EU's collection of 3 billion euros from U.S. products.
European officials are already preparing counteractions. Von der Leyen stated, "As the United States is applying tariffs worth $28 billion, we are responding with countermeasures worth 26 billion euros," equivalent to about $28 billion.
Sanya Singh for TROIB News
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