US President Donald Trump said late on Monday that the European Union's offer to remove tariffs on industrial goods, including cars, is not enough to address the trade imbalance between the US and Europe.
"The European Union has been very, very bad to us, they don't take our cars, like Japan in that sense, they don't take our agricultural product. They don't take anything practically," Trump told reporters at the White House.
Last week, Trump announced a 20 per cent tariff on European goods. This new tariff policy is expected to begin on April 9.
Trump also said that the EU was created to gain an advantage over the United States.
"The EU has been very tough over the years. It was formed to do damage to the United States in trade. It was formed with all of the countries from Europe. I guess most of them, not all of them, but most of them formed together to create a little bit of a monopoly situation to create a unified force against the United States trade. They're sending millions and millions of cars into the US, but we don't have a car that's been sold to the European Union or other places," Trump said during a bilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House.
Trump’s comments came after European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen made a proposal on Monday. She suggested a mutual agreement to remove tariffs on cars and other industrial products.
"We have proposed zero tariffs on industrial products... Europe is always ready to strike a good deal" with the United States, von der Leyen said during a press conference in Brussels. But "we are also ready to respond with countermeasures and defend our interests" against Trump's trade offensive, she warned.
Trump also said on Monday that the trade imbalance would reduce quickly if European countries started buying American energy.
"They need to buy and commit to purchasing an amount equivalent (to this trade deficit) in energy," Trump said.
"The European Union has been very, very bad to us, they don't take our cars, like Japan in that sense, they don't take our agricultural product. They don't take anything practically," Trump told reporters at the White House.
Washington, DC | During a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Israel #BenjaminNetanyahu, US President #DonaldTrump says, "The EU has been very tough over the years. It was formed to do damage to the United States in trade. It was formed with all of the countries from Europe.… pic.twitter.com/c59I5OBs2o
— DD News (@DDNewslive) April 8, 2025
Last week, Trump announced a 20 per cent tariff on European goods. This new tariff policy is expected to begin on April 9.
Trump also said that the EU was created to gain an advantage over the United States.
"The EU has been very tough over the years. It was formed to do damage to the United States in trade. It was formed with all of the countries from Europe. I guess most of them, not all of them, but most of them formed together to create a little bit of a monopoly situation to create a unified force against the United States trade. They're sending millions and millions of cars into the US, but we don't have a car that's been sold to the European Union or other places," Trump said during a bilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House.
Trump’s comments came after European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen made a proposal on Monday. She suggested a mutual agreement to remove tariffs on cars and other industrial products.
"We have proposed zero tariffs on industrial products... Europe is always ready to strike a good deal" with the United States, von der Leyen said during a press conference in Brussels. But "we are also ready to respond with countermeasures and defend our interests" against Trump's trade offensive, she warned.
Europe is ready to negotiate with the US.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 7, 2025
We have offered zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods.
Because we're always ready for a good deal.
But we’re also prepared to respond with countermeasures.
And protect ourselves against indirect effects through trade diversion. pic.twitter.com/hpZ77TXH4B
Trump also said on Monday that the trade imbalance would reduce quickly if European countries started buying American energy.
"They need to buy and commit to purchasing an amount equivalent (to this trade deficit) in energy," Trump said.
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