US President-elect Donald Trump on December 20 threatened the European Union (EU) with tariffs if the EU fails to reduce its "massive trade gap" with the US through oil and gas purchases.
"I told the European Union that they must make up for their massive deficit with the United States by buying our oil and gas in large quantities. If not, Tariffs!!!", Mr. Trump wrote on the social network Truth Social early on December 20 (US time), according to AFP.
US President-elect Donald Trump speaks at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida (USA) on December 16.
According to US data, imports from the EU will be worth $553.3 billion in 2022, while exports to the bloc will be $350.8 billion. This will result in a US goods trade deficit with the EU of $202.5 billion in 2022.
Responding to a question about Mr Trump's tariff threat, EU spokesman Olof Gill said the 27-nation bloc was ready to negotiate, noting that the US also enjoyed a "significant services trade surplus with the EU".
"We look forward to discussing with President-elect Trump how we can further strengthen our already strong relationship, including discussing our shared interests in the energy sector," Gill told a news conference.
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Last month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggested to President-elect Trump that the US could supply more liquefied natural gas to the EU to replace Russian energy.
Earlier this month, the EU signed a major trade deal with four South American countries — Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay — to create a free trade area of 700 million consumers. Von der Leyen said the deal would build trade bridges when “strong winds are blowing in the opposite direction, toward isolation and fragmentation,” a reference to Trump’s threat to raise tariffs.
Some analysts say Mr Trump's threat to raise tariffs could be rhetoric, or an attempt to gain leverage in future trade negotiations when he takes office next month.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump has repeatedly stressed that tariffs "used properly" will benefit the US economy , according to AFP. "Tariffs will make our country rich," Mr Trump told reporters at his Florida estate this week.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ong-trump-doa-danh-thue-len-eu-185241220202114557.htm
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