President Donald Trump hailed the use of tariffs as a retaliatory trade measure as ongoing tensions escalate with the EU, China, and NAFTA.
Countries that have treated us unfairly on trade for years are all coming to Washington to negotiate. This should have taken place many years ago but,
as the saying goes, better late than never!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 24, 2018
Tariffs are the greatest! Either a country which has treated the United States unfairly on Trade negotiates a fair deal, or it gets hit with Tariffs. It’s as simple as that – and everybody’s talking! Remember, we are the “piggy bank” that’s being robbed. All will be Great!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 24, 2018
Trump’s tweets come just one day before EU President Jean-Claude Juncker will visit the White House in a bid to head off more tariffs.
Trump has remained defiant in his position that tariffs are a useful tool in bringing countries to the negotiating table and maintains that he is willing to drop tariffs if other countries remove their own trade barriers.
Trump is currently considering a 20-percent tariff on EU-made cars in U.S. markets and would affect nearly 50 billion dollars in exports.