English
Trump criticizes EU trade policies, announces reciprocal tariffs
US President Donald Trump announced the imposition of reciprocal tariffs, indicating the possibility of imposing additional tariffs on countries that adopt a value-added tax. He stressed in his statements at the White House that US allies in the trade field are often more harmful than competitors.
Trump indicated that the United States will not allow the circumvention of tariffs by passing goods through other countries, stressing the introduction of new provisions that include non-monetary tariffs, such as tests on cars. He also explained that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will work to provide accurate data on non-tariff trade barriers.
The US President added that the European Union follows strict trade policies, as it imposes a 20% value-added tax, which harms several American companies such as Apple. Although the European Union reduced tariffs to 2.5%, Trump considered this an important achievement.
He stressed that the reciprocal tariff system aims to achieve trade justice, explaining that other countries have the option to reduce or eliminate tariffs. He also announced that the United States will continue to impose new tariffs on steel, cars, and medicines, expecting that tariffs on cars will be implemented soon.
Trump also noted that India is one of the countries that imposes the most tariffs, expecting that this will lead to an increase in jobs in the United States despite the temporary rise in prices. In a related context, American airlines asked for his support to confront the European Union tariffs, stressing that many countries will not provide any exemptions or concessions on customs duties.
This decision comes within the framework of the US administration's orientation towards achieving trade balance and promoting fair competition, amid expectations of direct effects on global markets and companies.
