Europe car makers fired up as Trump hikes China tariffs
Trump is due to make a decision about European cars next week, with the EU pledging retaliation and ending talks if car tariffs are imposed
Brussels — After raising tariffs on $200bn of Chinese imports on Friday, US President Donald Trump could turn the heat up on Europe as soon as next week when he is due to make a decision about its cars. For now, the EU, the world’s biggest trade bloc, is a bystander in the battle between the other two global trade super powers. That is worrying enough for an economy that is slowing. European leaders and officials had long said they would not discuss trade arrangements under threat of action from Trump, which some likened to negotiating with a gun to the head. But the prospect of a US decision affecting some €47bn ($53bn) worth of car and automotive part exports has brought them to the table. Trump received a section 232 investigation report in February, widely believed to have concluded that car and automotive part imports pose a risk to national security. The president’s 90-day deliberation period is due to end on May 18. Car makers expect Trump to extend the deadline by up to six ...
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