Washington: President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on European Union imports, stating that the decision will be revealed "very soon." He accused the EU of being designed to "take advantage" of the United States and suggested the bloc was deliberately working against American economic interests.
Trump made the remarks during his first cabinet meeting since his second-term inauguration, with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk in attendance. Musk, who leads the US Department of Government Efficiency, is not a cabinet member but was present for the discussion.
Trump’s latest tariff threat follows recent US-imposed duties on Canada, Mexico, and China. Earlier this month, the administration levied 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods and 10% on Chinese imports. While Canada and Mexico saw these measures temporarily suspended following border security agreements, China retaliated with its own tariffs on American products, including coal and liquefied natural gas.
Discussing the EU, Trump claimed that Europe had unfairly restricted American exports, particularly in the automotive and agricultural sectors. He said the US maintains a trade deficit of around $300 billion with the EU and suggested that imposing tariffs would rectify the imbalance.
"The EU was formed to screw the United States," Trump declared. "They’ve done a great job of it, but now I’m president."
When asked about potential European retaliation, Trump dismissed concerns, saying, "They can try, but they won’t succeed. If they do, we’ll just stop buying from them altogether. If that happens, we win."
The European Commission quickly responded, warning that any US tariffs would be met with strong countermeasures. A spokesperson emphasized that the EU remains the world’s largest free market and has been beneficial to the United States.
Tensions between Washington and its European allies have been rising, particularly over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Trump recently called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a "dictator with no elections," sparking outrage in Kyiv. Zelenskyy countered by accusing Trump of being influenced by Russian propaganda.
Trump has suggested that Europe should take greater responsibility for Ukraine’s security. "We’re going to have Europe do that," he said, indicating that the US would reduce its role in providing security guarantees. However, he did confirm that Zelenskyy will visit the US on Friday to finalize a major minerals deal, which Trump sees as a way to offset the billions of dollars in American aid given to Ukraine.
During the cabinet meeting, Trump praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as "smart" and "cunning," reiterating his belief that Putin would not have invaded Ukraine if he had been president at the time. He also suggested that NATO membership for Ukraine was out of the question, claiming it was a key factor in the war’s outbreak.
When questioned about China’s potential military ambitions toward Taiwan, Trump declined to comment, stating, "I never comment on that. I don’t want to put myself in that position."
At the start of the meeting, Musk spoke briefly about cost-cutting measures his department has been implementing. When reporters asked cabinet members if they supported Musk’s leadership, Trump interrupted, joking that he would "throw out" anyone who disagreed.
