In a fiery press briefing from the White House, US President Donald Trump didn’t mince words—he called the European Union “nastier than China” when it comes to trade. His comments came hot on the heels of new tariffs aimed squarely at EU goods, sparking fresh tension between Washington and Brussels.
Earlier this April, the US slapped a sweeping 20% tariff on all imports from the EU, along with a 25% duty specifically targeting vehicles and metals. Though Trump later eased off some of the pressure with a 90-day pause on most penalties, the key tariffs remain locked in place—unless a new deal is struck.
“The EU’s been playing dirty,” Trump claimed, citing what he views as a lopsided trading relationship. “They ship us 13 million cars, and we barely send any back. Same with farm goods—they flood our markets while blocking our own.” On top of that, he accused Brussels of going after American tech giants, saying, “They’re suing Apple, Google, Meta—everyone.”
Trump didn’t stop there. He argued that Europe was partly responsible for America’s sky-high prescription drug prices. According to him, the EU pressures pharmaceutical companies to keep prices artificially low in Europe, while leaving American consumers to foot the bill for research and development. “They’ve been getting a free ride,” he said. “Well, that’s about to change.”
Looking ahead, Trump promised that Europe will soon be paying more for its meds, while Americans will finally get a break. “We’re gonna balance this out,” he said. “Europe’s gonna pay up, and we’re gonna pay less.”
His comments came just hours after US and Chinese negotiators in Geneva agreed to temporarily lift or freeze most of the tariffs introduced earlier this year. Starting May 14, Washington will maintain a 30% duty on Chinese imports, while Beijing will keep a 10% tariff on American goods. Both countries also agreed to create a new consultation framework to hash out future trade policy.
Meanwhile, Brussels hasn’t had much luck at the negotiation table. Repeated attempts to strike a deal with the US have come up short. Still, the EU isn’t backing down—it just unveiled a list of potential retaliatory measures targeting €95 billion worth of American exports if talks collapse.
Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro didn’t hold back, warning EU leaders that moving forward with those plans would be a “grave mistake.” He described the proposed countermeasures as “a step in the wrong direction” that could derail any progress at the bargaining table.
