Donald Trump made threats of sweeping tariffs on U.S. trading partners a key part of his presidential campaign.

Summary

Donald Trump has demanded the European Union reduce its $131.3 billion U.S. trade deficit by purchasing more American oil and gas or face tariffs.

Trump’s comments, posted on Truth Social, come as the EU works to phase out Russian energy imports and diversify suppliers.

EU officials, while open to U.S. energy imports, criticized Trump’s approach as transactional, warning of potential retaliation.

Analysts highlight risks of tariffs to inflation and global trade. The EU plans to engage pragmatically but has prepared for heightened U.S. protectionism under Trump’s leadership.

  • FelixCress@lemmy.worldEnglish
    13·
    13 hours ago

    This is actually not his idea and it is already in motion in the EU to replace rest of Russian supplies.

      • FelixCress@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        11 hours ago

        Yup:

        There is expected to be strong demand for US gas imports from EU economies. The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said last month that gas from the US could be used to replace the bloc’s remaining imports of Russian LNG as the EU struggles to end its reliance on Russian fossil fuels.

        “We still get a whole lot of LNG via Russia, from Russia,” von der Leyen said. “And why not replace it with American LNG, which is cheaper, and brings down our energy prices.”

        • rc__buggy@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          11·
          9 hours ago

          Oof, transporting LNG is terrible for the environment. It costs in packaging and it leaks in transit. Honestly it would probably be better for our environment of they just took it from Russia