EU proposal very bad…Trump says

“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 percent tariff on European goods, in his all-out protectionist offensive, which is set to take effect April 9.

According to the BBC, Trump’s comments came in response to the proposal announced Monday by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

His announcement seeks a bilateral tariff exemption for cars and other industrial goods.

Von der Leyen said during a press conference in Brussels:

“We have proposed zero tariffs on industrial products… Europe is always ready to strike a good deal” with the United States, .

But “we are also ready to respond with countermeasures and defend our interests” against Trump’s trade offensive, she warned.

In comments Monday, Trump added that the EU’s trade deficit would “disappear fast” if European countries moved to purchase American energy.

“They have to buy and commit to buy a like amount of energy (to this trade deficit),” Trump said.

Trump said a deal would have to be worth $350 billion to cancel out the United States’ trade deficit with the EU.

He did not specify if such a purchase would mean the lifting of tariffs against the EU,

But the US goods trade deficit with the EU was only $235.6 billion in 2024, according to the US Trade Representative office.

Going by his comments, US President Donald Trump has rejected the European Union’s proposal for an exemption from tariffs on industrial products.

The industrial products included cars.

Trump stated that it is not enough to address the transatlantic trade deficit.

He told reporters at the White House:

“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 added.

What Did EU Propose in Trump Tariff War with US?

On Monday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a “zero-for-zero” tariff arrangement for industrial products.

The proposal was to defuse escalating trade tensions with the United States.

The industrial products include cars.

Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, von der Leyen stated:

“We have proposed zero tariffs on industrial products… Europe is always ready to strike a good deal with the United States.”

However, she warned that the European Union (EU) would not hesitate to implement countermeasures.

Such measures would come if negotiations failed, vowing to “defend our interests” against President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade policies.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that the EU is considering retaliatory tariffs of up to 25% on select American products, including food items and luxury goods.

Trump’s Tariff Did imposed on EU?

Last week, President Trump announced a 20% tariff on European goods, further intensifying his protectionist trade stance.

The new tariffs, set to take effect on April 9, target key European exports such as automobiles and machinery.

Donald Trump justified the imposition of tariffs by accusing the EU of unfair trade practices, claiming that European nations restrict imports of American cars and agricultural products.

US-EU Trade in Numbers

The transatlantic trade relationship is one of the most significant globally, with annual trade in goods and services exceeding €1 trillion.

However, the United States recorded a goods trade deficit of $235.6 billion with the EU in 2024, according to data from the US Trade Representative’s office.

Donald Trump has argued that trade deficit could be addressed if European countries committed to purchasing American energy products.

The US president suggested that such an agreement would need to be worth $350 billion—far exceeding the actual deficit—to resolve the issue.

European exports to the US are dominated by sectors such as machinery, vehicles, and chemicals, which accounted for nearly 68% of total exports last year.

Analysts warn that these industries could face severe disruptions if tariffs escalate further.

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