Trump threatens new EU tariffs, outlines potential April 2 date for brand new Mexico, Canada levies

President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs on the European Union on Wednesday, disparaging the bloc and widening his commerce battle throughout the Atlantic.

“We’ve got decided,” Trump mentioned throughout a cupboard assembly Wednesday afternoon. “We’ll be saying it very quickly, and it will be 25% usually talking, and that’ll be on automobiles and the entire issues,” Trump mentioned, framing the bloc as an adversary that has taken benefit of the US.

Alongside the tariff announcement, Trump took purpose on the EU itself.

“I imply, look, let’s be sincere,” Trump mentioned. “The European Union was fashioned to be able to screw the US. That is the aim of it, and so they’ve accomplished an excellent job of it. However now I am president.”

The remarks got here after Trump’s feedback a few deal in Ukraine, suggesting that the EU ought to contribute extra money towards a decision to the armed battle. Trump has beforehand used the specter of tariffs in opposition to different nations in makes an attempt to extract coverage concessions.

“They’ve actually taken benefit of us,” Trump mentioned of the EU. “They do not settle for our automobiles. They do not settle for, basically, our farm merchandise. They use all kinds of the explanation why not.”

The proposed new levies in opposition to the EU would broaden Trump’s commerce battle.

Learn extra: What are tariffs, and the way do they have an effect on you?

The president has already introduced tariffs in opposition to the nation’s main commerce companions: Canada, Mexico, and China.

On Wednesday, Trump recommended that the tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports would start on April 2.

The president beforehand agreed to a monthlong delay after the leaders of the nation’s neighbors to the north and south dedicated to stronger border management. The brand new April deadline would quantity to a different extension.

There was some confusion over whether or not Trump was referring to the April 2 date for Canada and Mexico particularly — or if he was discussing a broader program that goals to impose reciprocal tariffs on all US commerce companions.

Wall Road pulled again from the day’s highs following Trump’s recent spherical of tariff threats.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) rose 0.2%, the benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC) closed unchanged, whereas the Dow Jones Industrial Common (^DJI) gave up 0.4%.

Hamza Shaban is a reporter for Yahoo Finance overlaying markets and the economic system. Observe Hamza on X @hshaban.

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