Europe News

EU reportedly warns of new tariffs worth $300 billion if Trump targets automakers

Key Points
  • The EU set out clear plans to respond to potential U.S. duties on European cars.
  • European leaders are getting more convinced that President Trump will put new tariffs on European cars.
A worker performs the final check of a BMW 3-series automobile on the production line, March 11, 2009.
Guenter Schiffmann | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The United States could get a new round of retaliatory tariffs worth as much as $300 billion, if it moves ahead with new duties on European cars, the Financial Times reported.

In a written statement to the U.S. Department of Commerce, seen by the news publication, the EU set out clear plans to respond to potential U.S. duties on European cars. According to the newspaper, European leaders are getting more convinced that President Donald Trump will put new tariffs on European cars.

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The written submission sent by the EU also highlighted that European-owned car brands represented more than a quarter of U.S. car production. It added that this was mainly focused on exportation and any tariffs would fragment markets, raise prices for the American consumer and potentially lead to job losses.

Speaking to Fox News over the weekend, Trump said that the EU is “possibly as bad as China, just smaller” when speaking on trade deficits with other countries. He added: “It is terrible what they do to us.”

Read the full Financial Times article here.

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