It’s the only way to get justice” and for “the United States to be treated as it should be”, says the new US president
US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on imports from the European Union. “The European Union is very, very bad for us,” Trump said in statements to journalists at the White House the day after taking office. “So they [os países europeus] there will be tariffs. It’s the only way to get justice” and for “the United States to be treated properly.”
Trump also assured that his administration is discussing “10% tariffs on , because they send [o opióide] fentanyl to Mexico and Canada”, which ends up being consumed in the United States. “It will probably be February 1st,” Donald Trump added. This is also the announced date for the application of 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian products.
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro told CNBC on Tuesday that Trump’s response to Canada and Mexico is primarily aimed at pressuring both countries to prevent illegal immigrants and illicit drugs from entering the United States. “The reason he’s considering 25 and 10 (percent), or whatever, in Canada, Mexico and China, is because 300 Americans die every day” from fentanyl overdoses, Navarro pointed out.
China reacted this Wednesday by saying it was “firmly determined” to “defend its national interests”. “We have always believed that there are no winners in a trade war or a tariff war,” said Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at a press conference, highlighting that China is willing to maintain communication with the US to “Appropriately deal with differences and expand mutually beneficial cooperation”.
The president of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, who participated in the Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday, also assured that Europe is ready to speak with the United States government, remembering that Washington is an important commercial partner. “Europe will continue to advocate cooperation, not only with our long-standing friends (…) but also with all countries with which we have common interests,” added Von der Leyen.
