Trump threatens new EU tariffs, outlines possible April 2 date for new Mexico, Canada levies.

President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs on the European Union on Wednesday, disparaging the bloc and widening his trade conflict across the Atlantic.

“We have made a decision,” Trump said during a cabinet meeting Wednesday afternoon. “We’ll be announcing it very soon, and it’ll be 25% generally speaking, and that’ll be on cars and all of the things,” Trump said, framing the bloc as an adversary that has taken advantage of the US.

The remarks came after Trump’s comments about a deal in Ukraine, suggesting that the EU should contribute more money toward a resolution to the armed conflict. Trump has previously used the threat of tariffs against other nations in attempts to extract policy concessions.

“They’ve really taken advantage of us,” Trump said of the EU. “They don’t accept our cars. They don’t accept, essentially, our farm products. They use all sorts of reasons why not.”

The proposed new levies against the EU would broaden Trump’s trade battle.

The president previously agreed to a monthlong delay after the leaders of the country’s neighbors to the north and south committed to stronger border control. The new April deadline would amount to another extension.

There was some confusion over whether Trump was referring to the April 2 date for Canada and Mexico specifically — or if he was discussing a broader program that aims to impose reciprocal tariffs on all US trade partners.

Source: FINANCE.YAHOO