President Donald Trump speaks during a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May (not in the photo) in London, in Great Britain, June 4, 2019.
Carlos Barria | Reuters
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that commercial prices would be imposed on the European Union and the United Kingdom, but said that an agreement could still be concluded with Great Britain.
Trump has sent global markets to a flesh after having followed his threat of imposing import rates on the largest trade partners in the United States, applying a 25% rate on imports from Mexico and Canada and a direct debit 10% on the goods of China. Prices are expected to come into force on Tuesday.
The three countries have criticized the samples. Canada retaliated with its own sanctions against American imports, Mexico threatening to do the same. China said it would take legal action from the World Trade Organization.
Questioned on Sunday on the prospect of prices on the goods of the United Kingdom and the European Union (EU), Trump told the BBC that the two acted “offline”, but that the EU behaved worse and that the Prices could be imposed on the block “very soon.”
“They do not take our cars, they do not take our agricultural products, they take almost nothing, and we take everything.. He said that there was no calendar to impose prices, but that They would come “very soon”.
As for Great Britain, with whom the United States has a more nuanced commercial relationship, the president said that he thought that an agreement could still be concluded.
“The .uk is offline. But I’m sure that one, I think, that we can be developed,” said Trump, adding that he was “getting very well” with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Commercial sales
President Trump has long accused a number of larger American trade partners to operate the United States, citing significant and persistent trade deficits. Trump considers prices as a means of repairing balance, arguing that politics will increase American jobs and growth. Critics warn that samples also affect American citizens, as costs are passed on to consumers.
The EU is considered the next on the list of Trump prices, given that it is the largest block to entertain trade with the United States and has been criticized attended for its excess of persistent trade with states. The data of the European Commission show that the EU had a trade surplus of 155.8 billion euros ($ 159.6 billion) with the United States for goods in 2023, but made a deficit in Euros of 104 billion euros.
Machines and vehicles are the largest piece of EU exports to the United States by group of products, followed by chemicals, other manufactured products and medicinal and pharmaceutical products.
New cars from different brands are parked for exporting on the parking of a automotive terminal at the port of Duisburg, West Germany, August 7, 2024.
Ina Fassbender | AFP | Getty images
Trump described the United States trade deficit on Sunday with the EU as an “atrocity”, repeating his previous comments according to which the block had “benefited” from his relationship with the United States
“I can tell you that, because they really took advantage of us. And, you know, we have more than a deficit of $ 300 billion. I would not say that there is a chronology (for prices ) But it’s going to be very soon, “said Trump.
EU officials previously suggested that the block could respond to American prices “in a proportional manner”, the European Commission echoing that it “would respond firmly”.
“The tariff measures through the edge increase the costs of the company, harm workers and consumers. Prices create unnecessary economic disturbances and stimulate inflation..
“For the moment, we do not know any additional rate imposed on EU products. Our commercial and investment relationship with the United States is the largest in the world. There is a lot of them. We should both Consider strengthening this relationship, “added the commission spokesperson.
Is Great Britain out of the hook?
US President Donald Trump inspected an honorary guard during a welcome ceremony at the Buckingham Palace in the center of London on June 3, 2019, the first day of their three-day state visit to the United Kingdom
Mandel ngan | AFP | Getty images
The latest British commercial data show that the United Kingdom has experienced a trade surplus of 4.5 billion pounds Sterling ($ 5.5 billion) with the United States in goods, during the four quarters ending in the second quarter from 2024.
Economists have previously noted that the most balanced trade and the “special relationship” between the two countries could allow Great Britain to escape relatively unscathed from a potential trade war.
The Labor government sought to fly under the radar of Trump’s pricing anger, with the Minister of Finance Rachel Reeves by telling the CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month that the United Kingdom was “not part of the problem” “persistent” trade deficits that Trump Trump wants to tackle.
On Monday, a spokesman for the British government said: “We have a fair and balanced commercial relationship that benefits on both sides of the Atlantic”, in the comments reported by Reuters. CNBC asked for additional comments from the government and awaits an answer.
The pricing threat will necessarily be at the center of discussions when Starmer joins EU leaders in Brussels on Monday to discuss the region’s defense strategy. It is likely that the risk of a trade war is high on the agenda while Great Britain and the EU seek to deepen economic and political ties five years after leaving the block.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a press conference during his visit to the headquarters of the European Commission on October 2, 2024 in Brussels, Belgium.
Pool | Getty Images News | Getty images
The prospect of prices comes at a time already difficult for the EU, because the euro zone and the wider EU block struggle on the economic level. The data published last Thursday showed that the economy of the euro zone will take place in the fourth quarter, while the EU caused growth of 0.1% during the same period, from the previous quarter.
Deutsche Bank’s strategists said in a research note on Monday that all the prices that Trump had received on the EU would bring a “serious blow” to the region’s economy, emphasizing “if the EU had to bear 10% prices, the analysis of our economists has previously suggested that this was worth 0.5 to 0.9% reduction on GDP (gross domestic product) all other things being equal.
Europe will probably be struck by measures to seize the titles, according to Holger Schmieding, chief economist of Berenberg Bank – but the block could seek to conclude an agreement with the transactional Trump.
“By increasing military spending and increasing liquid natural gas imports from the United States, the EU will be able to avoid climbing the commercial spiral with the United States, if this is the case, Trade tensions will be limited, but to prevent a progressive business of European spring growth after almost no growth during the winter, “said Schmieding in the comments sent by e-mail on Monday.