World governments are calling for talks and negotiations with President Donald Trump after he imposed sweeping new tariffs on his trading partners on Wednesday.
“Taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years. But it is not going to happen anymore,” Trump said as he announced the new taxes.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called Trump’s announcement of a new 20% tariff on the European Union a “major blow” to the world economy.
“The consequences will be dire for millions of people around the globe. And this is hurting, in particular, the most vulnerable.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the EU “must show that we have strong muscles.”
“But this is with the aim of an agreement because that is the best for prosperity in Europe and for prosperity in the world,” he added.
British Prime Minister Kier Starmer said his government would react with “cool and calm heads” to Trump’s move.
“Nobody wins in a trade war; that is not in our national interest,” he said.
China plans to “resolutely take countermeasures to safeguard its own rights and interests” after being hit with a 50 % total levy, according to the country’s Commerce Ministry.
Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that his country “is making the largest amount of investment to the US” and wondered “if it makes sense for Washington to apply uniform tariffs to all countries.”
