Trump: America Must Use Tariffs On The European Union

US President Donald Trump/DOK United States Senate - Office of Dan Sullivan

JAKARTA - United States PresidentDonald Trump said the US "surely" would impose tariffs on the European Union (EU).

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Room, Trump said the bloc of the European countries "has treated us (US) very badly."

"Will I charge the European Union a tariff? Do you want an honest answer, or do I give you a political answer? Definitely, for sure," Trump said in response to a question about whether he would charge Antara from Anadolu, Saturday, February 1.

When asked if he was worried about the market's reaction to tariffs, Trump said: "No, no. The word tariff is a very misunderstood word. You've heard me say it, I said it jokingly, but it's one of the most beautiful words in the dictionary, really."

"We have been used because other people have imposed VAT on us For example, the European Union charged us 20 percent plus, ..., plus VAT taxes, called VAT taxes, very similar, and it spent a lot of our money. We were treated very badly," he said.

"They didn't take our car, they didn't take our agricultural products, basically, they didn't take anything," said Trump.

"And we have a very large deficit with the European Union. So, we will do something very substantial with the European Union. We will raise the level to the level it should be."

The tariff threat to the EU comes one day before he will charge Canada and Mexico, two major US and Chinese trading partners.

Tariffs took effect on Saturday, including import duties of 25 percent for all goods from Canada and Mexico, as well as a fine of 10 percent for imports from China.

According to the White House, it is subject to "for the illegal fentanyl they have provided and allow it to be distributed to our country."

However, for Canadian oil, Trump said he "may reduce the rate a little bit for that. We think we'll lower it to 10 percent for oil."