“Every new US car more expensive from now”, International Trade Committee Chair comments on tariffs of Trump administration.

The chairman of the International Trade Committee, Mr Bernd LANGE (DE, S&D), commented on US President Donald Trump’s decision to apply a 25% tariff on the import of cars.

“With these new measures, President Trump single-handedly made every new US car a lot more expensive. Under the false pretext of national security and with criteria made up of thin air, President Trump is trying to justify all sorts of illegal and harmful tariff measures without any consideration about the damaging impact for workers, businesses and above all consumers.

Unfortunately this only seems like the opening salvo of further illegal tariffs on 2 April. As EU we will always seek negotiated solutions and outcomes, as the recent trip by trade commissioner Sefcovic shows. But apparently, we need to get to an escalation before the US is willing to sit down and negotiate.

One thing is clear: we will not let ourselves be strong-armed by the US. We are ready for every option and will respond firmly and strongly. Our countermeasures on steel and aluminium will not suffice. If the US illegally attacks our core economic interests, the EU should put tariffs on digital services on which the US has a huge surplus, on the table, with the ultimate aim of getting to a negotiated outcome. “

Office of Mr .LANGE: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/1909/BERND_LANGE/home