Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

The United States President Donald Trump is likely to set to go ahead with imposing tariffs on imported vehicles from the European Union in an effort that might get Brussels under a table to negotiate and agree on a new trade deal with Washington.

According to Sputnik news reports, the Republican Senator Charles Grassley has said, they could be an “effective tool”, despite opposing the tariffs, in pushing Washington’ international trade partners to come under negotiation table for bilateral trade negotiations.

The senator, who also serves as the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, pointed out: “I think the president’s inclined to do it. I think Europe [is] very concerned about those tariffs … It may be the instrument that gets Europe to negotiate.”

Grassley further added that though he does not like a new tariff, they are “a fact of life when Trump is in the White House”, adding, the new tariff can become an “effective tool” in order to make China, Mexico, Canada, and other countries to come under negotiation for trade talks.

His remarks came after European Union Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom has said that EU had prepared a list of possible potential retaliation targets in case the US president decides to impose auto-tariffs on the bloc.

Malmstrom has earlier said if the US finally decides to impose any auto tariffs on the bloc (European cars), the EU commission will introduce new tariffs which would worth at least $20 billion over the US goods.

According to reports, Trump has threatened to slap the EU with 25 percent tariffs on imported light trucks, autos, SUVs, Vans and parts from the EU.

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