Trump Criticizes the EU and Announces 25% Tariff on European Goods

During his first cabinet meeting, President Trump claimed that the European Union was established with the purpose of undermining the United States. He announced that the U.S. would soon levy a tariff of approximately 25% on European cars along with other goods, reflecting a policy stance he has hinted at in recent months.

Trump maintained that although the EU might try to retaliate with its own tariffs, such actions would ultimately fail because the U.S. would simply cease purchasing those goods. He contrasted this approach with tariffs imposed on Canada and Mexico, which he mentioned would be postponed until early April. This delay appears tied to extended deadlines for Mexico and Canada regarding border security and efforts to curb the opioid crisis.

Discussing the future of Ukraine, Trump indicated that while Washington had taken initial steps toward mending ties with Kyiv through a minerals deal, any security guarantees in the context of a peace settlement would be Europe’s responsibility due to its proximity. The focus, he noted, would be on ensuring a smooth transition with Europe playing a central role in safeguarding Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Zelensky confirmed that the preliminary minerals agreement with Washington did not include U.S. security guarantees. He emphasized that the overall success of the deal would depend on subsequent discussions with Trump, hoping that the United States would eventually serve as a key provider of security guarantees to protect Ukraine from potential future Russian aggression.

In addition, Trump highlighted the ongoing effort to restore U.S.-Russia relations, noting that his administration had re-established communication with President Putin after a long period of isolation. He recalled a recent call with Putin and a high-level meeting in Riyadh that marked the beginning of rapprochement between the two nations.