Remko Waal / EPA
United States President Donald Trump said tonight that “the European Union is very unpleasant” for applying “very unfair taxes” to companies in the country, but added that “they will soon learn but not so unpleasant.”
In statements to the press from the oval room, Donald Trump Said that “ negotiations with Ursulachairman of the European Commission ”, but it is“ a very difficult situation ”.
“They have been incredibly unfair with us. If we look at the previous presidents, they were very poorly treated. I am well treated because I perceive the system, I know the system. And we have the letters in hand. We have much more power than them, ”he said.
Trump added that Ue didn’t want to negotiate With the United States until it announced 50%rates. “As soon as they said, they came to the table”He said.
“The problem is that they have a number of very unfair taxes that we never imposed. Are constantly processing our companiesApple, Google, all of them before judges who basically work for the EU. And take these ultrajating decisions“He continued.
The US President stressed that, If anyone has to impose fines To these companies, they must be the US. “If there is a fine, which is paid to the United States, but for years they do this. The European Union is very bad. There is no doubt about it, but soon they will learn but not so unpleasant, ”he explained.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenhad warned the US that the EU is preparing for “possibility of no understanding satisfactory, ”promising to defend European interests.
“Today, we received the latest US document to proceed with negotiations and We are analyzing it at this time“It began by saying von der Leyen at a press conference after a European council dedicated in part to matters of economic competitiveness in Brussels.
Trump concluded that, A year ago, the US was not respectedS, but now Russia’s presidents Vladimir Putin, China, Xi Jinping, and North Korea, Kim Jong Un, do: “Everyone comes back to respect our country”.
A few weeks after the beginning of his new term, Donald Trump launched one in which he dramatically increased customs rates to 90 countries worldwide, including China and EU member states, in which he designated “Application of reciprocal tariffs“.
In April, the United States and the EU in the application of new rates between the two commercial blocks until June 1, to “give time and an opportunity to negotiations” – whose July 9th.
The European Commission, which holds the competence of the EU trade policy, has opted for prudence and this caution is supported by countries such as Portugal. Brussels wants to be able to negotiate with Washington, having already proposed zero tariffs for industrial goods in trade between both blocks.
At the moment, 379 billion euros in EU exports For the United States, the equivalent of 70% of the total is subject to new tariffs, including the suspended temporarily, since the new US administration took office last January.
According to the institution, an average rate of customs rights in the United States is at stake higher than in the 1930s.
