During an April meeting in Washington, foreshadowing the Group of 7 summit, President Donald Trump told the French president that when it comes to trade the EU is worse than China.
French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly told Trump that both countries have to work together to solve a mutual trade problem with China, which a source said was the cause of Trump’s comment. The source added that in the one-hour April 24 meeting, the President told Macron that there are too many German cars in the United States. According to the person, who was present at the meeting in the Oval Office, over the past months Trump has made the same complaint with other European leaders as well.
The details of the Washington meeting come amid fears of a trade war with the European Union, Canada and Mexico as a result of President Trump’s decision to impose steep tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.
Tensions reached a boiling point during the G7 summit on Saturday when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and European leaders reaffirming plans to institute retaliatory measures against the United States, prompting a reaction from President Trump who said he won’t endorse a G7 communique.
“Based on Justin’s false statements at his news conference, and the fact that Canada is charging massive Tariffs to our U.S. farmers, workers and companies, I have instructed our U.S. Reps not to endorse the Communique as we look at Tariffs on automobiles flooding the U.S. Market!” the President tweeted on Saturday.
European officials and members of Congress consequently reacted to the President’s criticism. Republican Senator John McCain said Americans would continue to stand with the nation’s historical allies.
“To our allies: bipartisan majorities of Americans remain pro-free trade, pro-globalization & supportive of alliances based on 70 years of shared values. Americans stand with you, even if our president doesn’t,” the senator tweeted.
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