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The president’s threats to slap duties on goods imported from the European Union are part of a pattern of directing the harshest penalties at the United States’ closest allies.
Patricia Cohen covers the global economy and trade from London.
Feb. 3, 2025, 3:12 p.m. ET
Europe, you’re next.
That’s the latest message from President Trump, who has repeatedly said in recent days that he would slap punitive tariffs on the 27 members of the European Union.
Tariffs “will definitely happen with the European Union,” Mr. Trump told the BBC Sunday evening, and they are coming “pretty soon.” He doubled down on the threat on Monday, complaining about deficits in auto and farm products, hours before new tariffs were expected go into effect on imports from Canada and China, with Mexico getting a one-month delay.
“The European Union has abused the United States for years, and they can’t do that,” Mr. Trump said on Monday.
A head-spinning blitz of executive orders and policy reversals related to international trade, aid and agreements has come out of the White House in the past two weeks. But one common thread is that Mr. Trump has directed the harshest penalties at some of America’s closest economic and military allies.
One reason is that the United States has large trade deficits with Mexico, Canada and the European Union in addition to China, said Agathe Demarais, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
“Trump is obsessed with trade deficits,” she said. And he may be “starting with the places where he feels he will have quick wins.”
