Trump vows to impose tariffs on EU if oil deals aren't increased

US President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to impose higher import duties on the European Union if Brussels does not significantly increase its oil and gas purchases from the United States.

Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social account, Caliber.Az reports.

"I told the European Union that they must make up their tremendous deficit with the United States by the large-scale purchase of our oil and gas. Otherwise, it is TARIFFS all the way!!!" he wrote.

During his first term, Trump imposed new tariffs on steel and aluminium. In late 2022, tensions began brewing again between the US and its European partners after the United States passed the Inflation Reduction Act. The EU responded by imposing tariffs on American goods. The possibility of another trade war between the US and Europe now looms, with the EU fearing that Trump may return to his protectionist policies and raise duties on EU products.

In addition to threatening tariffs on European goods, Trump has already pledged to add a 10% tariff on imports from China. He also stated that, upon taking office on January 20, he would sign an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on all goods from Mexico and Canada. The tariff would be applied unless Canada and Mexico cooperate in reducing illegal immigration into the United States.

On December 3, Trump held a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, where he warned of the possibility of 25% tariffs on Canadian imports unless Ottawa assists Washington in limiting the flow of illegal migrants, particularly those entering the US via the Canadian border.

Additionally, former US ambassador to the European Union, Anthony Gardner, has expressed the view that Trump may attempt to destabilize the European Union during his second term. Gardner believes that Trump may align with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, one of the EU’s most vocal critics, to further this goal of undermining the union.

By Tamilla Hasanova