The European Union on Thursday strongly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments that the 27-nation bloc was working against the United States and warned it would vigorously oppose any 25 percent blanket tariff on EU products.
The escalating trade dispute comes after Trump accused the EU of being designed to “screw” the United States on Wednesday, deepening an already growing transatlantic rift fueled by his warnings that Washington could withdraw security guarantees for its European allies.
Why It Matters
Trump has long touted tariffs as a way to protect U.S. consumers. He has long said that the measures protect Americans from unfair trade practices and would lead to a boost in U.S. manufacturing. Economic experts have pushed back saying that tariffs often lead to higher costs passed on to consumers.
The pushback from the EU comes as the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is visiting the White House. Once a member of the European Union, the United Kingdom left the bloc in 2020. Starmer is hoping to avoid tariffs on his nation.
AP Photo/Ben Curtis
What To Know
Trump sparked anger from EU leaders, after telling reporters on Thursday that: “The European Union was formed in order to screw the United States. That’s the purpose of it, and they’ve done a good job of it,” adding that such practices would end under his leadership.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency, firmly pushed back against Trump’s remarks.
“The EU wasn’t formed to screw anyone,” Tusk said in post on X, formerly Twitter. “Quite the opposite. It was formed to maintain peace, to build respect among our nations, to create free and fair trade, and to strengthen our transatlantic friendship. As simple as that.”
Earlier this month, however, the U.S. hit European countries with 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum. Trump is threatening more, based on his view that the EU is treating the U.S. unfairly in trade.
In part, these actions are a result of the war between Russia and Ukraine. The president has voiced concerns that the U.S. is doing more than its NATO allies in Europe to help end the conflict.
On Tuesday, Starmer announced an increase in Britain’s defense spending to 2.5 percent of GDP. The prime minister said this was in response to global instability over recent years, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The move was welcomed by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Starmer will be hoping to leverage the UK’s so-called “special relationship” with the U.S. in order to receive an exemption from tariffs and potentially offer to be a bridge between the White House and Europe.
Ahead of his Washington, D.C., visit, Starmer said in a statement he would be focused on delivering prosperity and security for the British people when he meets with Trump. In a statement, his office touted a trade partnership worth around $400 billion between the two countries, while also insisting that Ukraine must be involved in talks on ending the war with Russia.
What People Are Saying
Starmer, in a statement: “The world is becoming ever more dangerous, and it is more important than ever that we are united with our allies. A stable economy, secure borders and national security are the foundations of my Plan for Change, and the US-UK relationship is integral to delivering them. These principles will be at the heart of discussions with President Trump today.
“There are huge opportunities for us to deepen our special relationship, deliver growth and security, and improve the lives of working people in both our great nations.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, speaking Thursday: “We are going to defend our interests when our economies are attacked with tariffs that are completely unjustified and represent a veiled threat to our economic sovereignty.”
Gareth Stace, the director general of the trade body UK Steel, told The Guardian: “The US is our second-largest export market after the EU. At a time of shrinking demand and high costs, rising protectionism globally, particularly in the US, will stifle our exports and damage over £400m worth of the steel sector’s contribution to the UK’s balance of trade.”
What Happens Next
Starmer and Trump are meeting at the White House Thursday, where they are expected to speak briefly to reporters in the Oval Office.
Reporting by The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Update 2/27/25, 1:25 p.m. ET: This story was updated with more information.
