Trump: We will impose 25% tariffs on European products

US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Washington will “soon” impose 25% tariffs on European products, criticizing the European Union.

During his first cabinet meeting, Trump considered that the European Union was created to hurt Washington. He said, “Let’s be honest, the European Union was created to hurt the United States.”

Asked if he had made a decision on the tariff rate he would impose on the European Union, Trump said, “We have made a decision, we will announce it soon, it will be 25%,” the same tariff rate that will be imposed on Mexican and Canadian products starting in early April.

He explained that these fees will target products including cars, noting that the European Union “has already taken advantage of us.”

Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on US trading partners to counter “unfair and unbalanced” trade.

Since taking office in January, Trump has imposed tariffs on U.S. neighbors Canada and Mexico over illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking. He then announced a suspension of those tariffs until April.

When asked about this, Trump said he would not stop imposing the tariffs, adding that he planned to do so on April 2.

"Customs duties will be imposed, not all of them, but a large part of them," he said.

Source: AFP