White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Tuesday trade negotiations with the European Union (EU) have been strained because the bloc of nations remains indecisive.
Hassett told reporters, “The problem with the EU is just that they have so many different countries that disagree about what’s most important to them that they can’t make up their own minds.”
His comments come two days after President Trump threatened to raise tariffs on imports from the EU to 50 percent by June 1 if a deal wasn’t soon reached.
“The European Union, which was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the United States on TRADE, has been very difficult to deal with,” Trump wrote Friday morning in a post on Truth Social.
“Their powerful Trade Barriers, Vat Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against Americans Companies, and more, have led to a Trade Deficit with the U.S. of more than $250,000,000 a year, a number which is totally unacceptable,” he added.
Earlier this month, the EU also threatened to unleash $107 billion in tariffs if a trade deal did not come to fruition. European officials also announced a proposal to tax a broad range of agricultural and industrial products — including alcohol, cars and Boeing planes.
Still, Hassett said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jameison Greer are trying to find what the European Union cares about and “what they really want, what concessions they want us to make, and what we really care about and what concession we want them to make.”
The Trump administration’s talks with a range of countries continue following the president’s “Liberation Day” tariff rollout of sweeping reciprocal tariffs and a 10 percent baseline import tax.
Most of the higher import taxes are currently on hold during negotiations, but the 10 percent import tax remains in play. Trump signaled earlier this month that once the pause lapses, new rates will be revealed.
The White House announced its first major trade agreement on May 8 with the United Kingdom. More deals are forthcoming, according to the administration.