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US President Donald Trump said he was planning to strike goods made in the European Union with 25%prices.
“We will announce it very soon,” he told journalists during an appearance with members of his office. “It will be 25% in general and it will be on cars and all other things.”
The appearance has triggered new questions on the president’s business levels, as it also seemed to raise the possibility that imminent prices on imports from Mexico and Canada, which should come into force on March 4, could be postponed again.
The White House did not immediately respond to a clarification request.
On Wednesday, in Trump’s comments, he clearly indicated that trade with Europe was in sight, repeating his criticism of European policies, who, according to him, put American exporters of food and cars in disadvantage.
“The European Union has been trained to screw the United States-that is the purpose of this and they have done a good job,” he said. “But now I’m president.”
The EU has rejected the president’s claims, saying that the creation of a regional market had facilitated business in Europe for American companies.
The commission spokesman said the EU would react “firmly and immediately against unjustified prices”.
“We are ready to associate ourselves if you respect the rules. But we will also protect our consumers and our companies each turn. They do not expect us,” said the spokesperson.
Prices are a tax on imports that is perceived by the government and paid by companies that bring the goods.
Trump has promised to use the samples to stimulate the manufacture of the United States, collect funds and push other countries to modify the policies to which it is opposed.
Since its entry into office, it has increased 10% tariffs on goods from China and has taken measures to achieve other imports with rights, in particular by ordering its staff to develop recommendations for “reciprocal” tariffs personalized for each country.
But he also suspended some of these plans, leaving many companies and analysts to guess if he is ready to execute his threats.
Earlier this month, he ordered 25% of the goods in Mexico and Canada, the two main American business partners. But he suspended the functions before entering into force until March 4, to allow talks on border security.
Trump said on Monday that he expected 25% prices on Mexico and Canada goods to come into force “on time”.
At the meeting on Wednesday, when he was asked for an update, he said that the 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada would come into force on April 2.
It is the same day that the Commerce Department is supposed to provide its wider recommendations for “reciprocal” prices.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lunick told journalists that “the whole is April 2”, the distinction between prices related to concerns about drug trafficking and migration in Mexico and Canada.
The industrial average of Dow Jones, the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ were all led lower in the midday trade.
