Donald Trump launches new attack on ‘terrible, freeloading’ EU – ‘They abused us!’ | World | News
Donald Trump has launched a furious attack on the European Union, saying they have been “freeloading” and have been “terrible” to the US on trade. Speaking to reporters during a meeting with US Ambassadors, the US President said: “If you look at Ukraine, we’re in for $350billion because of Biden.”
Mr Trump also suggested the war “should never have happened”, claiming other allies had only contributed $100billion (£79billion). He added: “I don’t blame Europe or NATO for this, I blame Biden. And you could say it is more important for them because we have an ocean in between. I think I have been very fair to countries which have abused us for decades.”
The US President’s latest incendiary diatribe follows his claim last week that his country had been “raped and pillaged” by Brussels.
Last month Mr Trump accused the European Union of being “formed to screw the United States” and threatened to impose 25% tariffs on EU imports, citing concerns over trade imbalances.
This month, his administration imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from the EU, prompting retaliatory measures and escalating trade tensions.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a package targeting various American products, including boats, bourbon, and motorcycles.
She insisted that these countermeasures were proportionate and aimed at balancing the interests of European producers, exporters, and consumers while minimising economic harm.
However, the bloc is delaying introducing them until mid-April, senior officials said last week.
The bloc had intended to impose the measures on goods from the United States worth some 26 billion euros ($28 billion) in two phases, on April 1 and April 13. The tariffs will target steel and aluminum products, but also American beef, poultry, bourbon, motorcycles, peanut butter and jeans.
But Mr Trump also plans to impose “reciprocal” tariffs by increasing U.S. duties to match the tax rates that other countries charge on imports “for purposes of fairness.” These reciprocal tariffs are expected to be announced on April 2.
Ms von der Leyen said: “I can confirm that we decided to adjust the timing of the entry into force of tariffs.”
