Germany V USA: Trump issues threat to slap tariffs on EU products if Merkel doesn’t buckle
DONALD Trump is threatening to slap tariffs on dozens of European products as German Chancellor Angela Merkel sends her top economic advisor to Washington to avert the crisis.
By KATIE MANSFIELD
Express.co.uk
Fri, Jun 30, 2017
Donald Trump’s administration is at breaking point with the EU and is ready to sever ties with the bloc over financial market regulation amid ongoing tensions with Germany.
Previous meetings between the US President and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have been overshadowed by tension after Mr Trump refused to shake his German counterpart’s hand.
According to German weekly magazine Die Spiegel, the US President is preparing to throw his weight around and is ready to punish the EU and its economic powerhouse Germany by issuing tariffs on dozens of product if the bloc refuses to open its market to US hormone-fed meat.
The crisis comes ahead of the G20 summit with Mrs Merkel sending top economic adviser Lars-Hendrik Roeller and her team to the White House for talks today.
G20 countries began coordinating on financial regulation and tax matters after the global financial crisis of 2008/9.
But Mr Trump who has repeatedly called to put “America first” is ready to go it alone.
Germany’s efforts amount to a last-ditch bid to overcome differences on trade and climate change ahead of the G20 summit in Hamburg, which will be held from July 7-8.
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