Trump threatens 25% tariffs on EU imports
By Abigail Townsend
Date: Thursday 27 Feb 2025
(Sharecast News) - Donald Trump has confirmed he plans to impose 25% tariffs on the European Union, claiming the bloc was "formed to screw the United States".
Speaking at his first cabinet meeting on Wednesday - ahead of a meeting on Thursday with UK prime minister Kier Starmer and just two days after he met with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron - the US president said: "We have made a decision and we'll be announcing it very soon.
"It'll be 25% generally speaking, and that will be on cars and all other things."
He did not provide any further details, and instead launched a broadside at the EU.
He claimed the bloc had "really taken advantage of us...They don't accept our cars, they don't accept essentially our farm products. They use all sorts of reasons why not and we accept everything from them.
"Let's be honest. The European Union was formed in order to screw the United States, that's the purpose of it, and they've done a good job of it, but now I'm president."
Asked what he would do if the EU retaliated and imposed tariffs on US imports, Trump said: "They can't. I mean, they can try, but they can't.
"We just go cold turkey, we don't buy anymore."
A spokesperson for the European Commission said in response: "The EU will react firmly and immediately against unjustified barriers to free and fair trade, including when tariffs are used to challenge legal and non-discriminatory policies.
"The European Union is the world's largest free market. And it has been a boon for the United States."
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