Brussels’ zero-for-zero tariff offer not enough, U.S. president says, but indicates he’s open to a deal if the bloc commits to closing the trade deficit in goods.

Summary

Trump has rejected the EU’s “zero-for-zero” tariff offer on cars and industrial goods, demanding instead that the bloc commit to purchasing $350 billion of American energy to offset the trade deficit.

Following his implementation of 20% tariffs on EU goods last week, which triggered significant market downturns, Trump indicated openness to negotiations while emphasizing his “America First” stance.

He also criticized EU product standards as “non-monetary barriers” designed to block American exports.

  • Lit@lemmy.worldEnglish
    411·
    5 days ago

    They don’t need $350B of US energy. why not sell something they need instead for forcing your customer to eat “McDonald’s” when they don’t need or want to.

    Might as well force penguins to buy ice cube and snow made in US.

    • cosmicrookie@lemmy.worldEnglish
      25·
      5 days ago

      If they needed it, they’d have bought it. The whole point with all this is, to have the rest of the world buy stuff from the US, that they don’t neen or already buy from other places because it makes more sense. There is no logic - it is straight up blackmail

    • gonzo-rand19@moist.catsweat.com
      10·
      5 days ago

      Honestly, pressuring someone into a purchase is how they start to think that maybe your products aren’t worth their perceived value. Otherwise, why the hard sell?

      Art of the deal, my ass. I wonder if he can even feel embarrassment or if he simply hides it behind his “masterful leader” persona.

    • Fisch@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      7·
      5 days ago

      I’m pretty sure he knows they don’t need it and that that’s the point. He’s probably trying to force to buy stuff they don’t need in addition to the stuff they need, which they’ll buy anyway.