US President-elect Donald Trump on Friday threatened the European Union with customs taxes if it does not reduce its trade surplus with Washington by buying oil and gas from it.
“I told the European Union that it must make up its huge deficit with the United States by purchasing our oil and gas on a large scale,” the Republican billionaire wrote in a message on his social network Truth.
“Otherwise, it’s CUSTOMS TARIFFS all the way!!! » Threatened Donald Trump.
In his comment, Mr. Trump seems to be referring instead to the United States' trade deficit with the European Union (EU).
Imports of goods from the EU amounted to US$553.3 billion in 2022, while US exports to the Twenty-Seven represented US$350.8 billion, according to US figures.
The European Union reacted on Friday by saying it was ready to consider “ways to strengthen an already solid relationship, including by discussing our common interests in the energy sector” with Donald Trump, according to a spokesperson for the European Commission.
“Substantial” imbalance
The European Union also emphasizes that the entire trade balance must be taken into account.
The EU certainly has a “substantial” trade surplus in goods, but the United States has an equally “substantial” surplus in services. “This is not always taken into account in the type of messages you are referring to,” said this spokesperson, when asked about the message published by Mr. Trump on his social network.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, had already raised in early November the possibility that the United States would supply more liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the EU to replace Russian gas.
Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20, has threatened to impose harsh tariffs on US trading partners including Canada, Mexico and China, which could impact the global economy .
On December 6, the EU concluded a vast trade agreement with four South American Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay) aimed at creating a free trade zone for 700 million consumers.
Mme von der Leyen then assured that the agreement would create trade bridges at a time when “strong winds are blowing in the opposite direction, towards isolation and fragmentation”, a comment seen as an allusion to Donald Trump's threats to increase customs duties.
The US president-elect's tariff threats could, analysts say, be bragging or leverage for future trade negotiations when he takes office.
But he continued to insist that “properly used” tariffs would be positive for the American economy. “Our country is currently losing to everyone,” he said earlier this week. “Customs taxes will make our country rich. »
