Donald Trump poses a veiled threat to the WTO after the EU's warning on auto tariffs



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By: Reuters | Washington / brussels |

Posted: July 3, 2018 7:37:49 am





  Donald Trump threatens the WTO after warning the EU on auto tariffs Prime Minister Mark Trump also said his government would meet with EU officials to "work on something" on trade.

US President Donald Trump warned the World Trade Organization on Monday that "we will do something" If the United States is not treated properly, a few hours after the European Union said that US car rates would hurt their own auto industry and prompt retaliation.

Trump, addressing reporters at a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte House, said: "The WTO has treated the US very badly and I have not been able to do anything. hope they will change their habits. "

His comments came after the Axios news site reported that the Trump administration had proposed legislation that would allow Trump to raise rates as it pleases and to negotiate deals. special tariffs with specific countries – two fundamental violations of the WTO rules.

The United States has "a big disadvantage with the WTO, and we are not planning anything now, but if they do not treat us properly, we'll do something," Trump said, without specifying .

Last week, a source close to Trump's thought told Reuters that the President Later in the day, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Trump was seeking to solve the problems of the global trade, and not to leave the trade organization that has been the foundation of the postwar global trading system.

"Right now, he would like the system to be repaired, and that's what he's focusing on," Sanders said. "It has been clear that he has concerns, that there are a number of aspects that he does not believe are right." And China and other countries have used the WTO to their advantage.We focus on repairing the system. "

USA, EU TRADE TALKS?

When meeting with Rutte, Trump also stated that his administration would meet with EU officials to "work on" on trade.The US has imposed tariffs on European steel and aluminum imports and is currently conducting a another study on national security that could result in tariffs on automobiles and auto parts.

– We'll meet them soon enough, says Trump. "They want to see if they can work on something, and will be good, and if we work, it will be positive, and if we do not, it will be positive also, because we're I'm just thinking about cars coming here, and we'll do something, is not it?

A spokesperson for the US Trade Representative's office was not contacted immediately for details of these discussions.

The EU on Friday presented comments warning the US Department of Commerce that US import duties on cars and auto parts were unjustifiable and would harm the US auto industry and would entail probably countermeasures of its trading partners for 294 billion USD. The ministry launched its investigation, for reasons of national security, on May 23 under the orders of Trump, who often complained that the EU's 10% tariff was four times higher than that United States, with the exception of 25% stuff ks.

Trump said last week that the government would soon complete its study and suggested that the United States would act, having already threatened to impose a 20 percent tariff on all cars badembled by the United States. EU. The EU's executive body that runs the trade for the bloc, said Monday that it was trying to convince its US counterparts that imposing such tariffs would be a mistake.

"We will spare no effort, be it technical or political level To avoid this," a spokesman for the commission told reporters, adding that President Jean-Claude Juncker's trip to Washington later this month would seek to stop any new US fare.

The EU has exported 37.4 billion euros Indeed, according to the EU, European companies manufacture nearly 2.9 million cars in the United States, thus supporting 120,000 jobs, or 420,000 if auto dealers and auto parts dealers are included.

Imports had not increased dramatically in recent years and had increased largely in parallel with the general expansion of the US auto market, with an increase in demand.

According to the submission, tariffs on automobiles and auto parts could hurt US auto production by imposing higher costs on US manufacturers. The EU has calculated that a tariff of 25% would have an initial negative impact of $ 13 to $ 14 billion on the US gross domestic product without improving the country's current account balance.

The trade group representing the Detroit automakers. and Fiat Chrysler, also warned the Commerce Department that a 25% import tariff on autos and parts would result in a new total tax expense of $ 90 billion a year, combined with the company's tariffs. Steel and aluminum. "Imposing tariffs will increase costs for consumers, decrease consumer choice, reduce consumer demand, reduce production and sales of cars and light trucks, reduce investment and result in job losses in the economy." American automotive sector ". Policy Council, said in a statement

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