Trump Issues Warning to Canada and EU: More Tariffs Threatened If Economic Harm Occurs
Former President warns of retaliatory measures amidst ongoing trade tensions, insisting on protecting American economic interests.
Trump Warns EU and Canada of Higher Tariffs as Trade Tensions Escalate
US President Donald Trump made a dire threat on Thursday, warning the European Union and Canada that they would face massive tariffs if either of them helps “to do economic harm” to the United States. The threat, according to news agency AFP, was made in a late-night posting on Trump‘s Truth Social site, where he said that “large-scale tariffs, much larger than currently contemplated,” would be imposed in response to any perceived economic danger.
If the European Union is working to do economic harm to the USA, high–grossing Tariffs, far greater than at present planned, will be imposed on them both to defend the best friend that each of those two nations has ever had!” Trump stated in his post.
The warning comes after Trump’s previous proposal of a 25% tariff on auto imports and parts, raising tension with the country’s trading partners and leading to threats to retaliate. The new tariff schedule will take effect at 12:01 AM (0401 GMT) on April 3, affecting foreign-made automobiles and light trucks, together with major automobile components. The news plunged Wall Street into a slump, with major automakers suffering sharp drops, including a greater than three percent fall for Toyota, the world‘s best-selling automaker.
Even among Trump‘s inner circle, the effects of the tariffs have been eye-raising. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has been dubbed a Trump supporter, said in a social media post on site X that the impact on his company’s cars due to the tariffs would be significant, adding that the impact on parts he imports from other nations is “not trivial.”
In addition, sources report that Trump is weighing imposing sector-specific tariffs on industries including drugs, computer chips, and wood. This tactic of targeted tariffs fits with Trump‘s continued campaign platform of economic protectionism.
Wednesday’s tariff declaration coincides with a strategic move before Trump‘s declared “Liberation Day“ for the world‘s largest economy on April 2, a day that he has positioned as a major milestone in resuscitating American manufacturing.
As tensions rise in global trade relations, only time will tell how Canada and the European Union will react to Trump’s recent threats and what additional retaliatory actions will be forthcoming in the weeks ahead
