Trump threatens EU with increased tariffs on cars and trucks

Albin Almqvist, 

Isak Fritzon

Updated 22.31 | Published 17.56

Trump is on the tariff warpath again.

Now the president is threatening tariffs of up to 25 percent on cars and trucks from the EU.

“The EU is not following our trade agreement,” he writes on social media.

Donald Trump threatens the EU in a post on Truth Social. The president says he wants to raise tariffs on cars and trucks imported into the US by 25 percent:

“Due to the European Union not following our trade agreement, next week I will raise tariffs on cars and trucks imported from the EU to the US,” he writes.

“Drawn out over time”

Sweden's Minister of Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa (M) says the criticism is partly true.

“The president believes that the EU is not adhering to the agreement that was reached last summer and is dragging its feet. That is true to some extent, especially the European Parliament’s processes have dragged on,” he writes in a comment to Aftonbladet.

At the same time, Dousa believes that the president himself bears some of the responsibility. The tariff threats linked to Greenland have contributed to the process being delayed.

          

         Trade Minister Benjamin Dousa (M) says that the government will work to de-escalate the situation.            Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT

Trade Minister: “The worst Swedish companies know”

He takes the president’s new tariff threats seriously.

“Sweden has acted as a serious and reliable trading partner throughout this turbulent year. If we have an agreement with the US, it should of course be followed by all parties.”

He continues:

"The worst thing Swedish companies know is jerkiness and unpredictability. The government will work to de-escalate the situation. The EU needs to fulfill our parts quickly, and the US too. We do not want new trade conflicts, especially when it risks an important Swedish export industry such as vehicles".

          

          Donald Trump. Photo: Alex Brandon /AP/TT

Volvo: "Negative for our business"

The president has also previously threatened to raise tariffs on cars and trucks in particular.

As recently as last winter, Volvo Cars CEO Håkan Samuelsson told DN that increased tariffs would be serious for the company:

- If there is a cost increase of 10 percent, it is of course very serious for all the cars that we export. So of course it is very negative for our business, Samuelsson told the newspaper.

        

        Photo: Noah Berger / AP

        

       In April last year, Donald Trump presented new tariffs. Photo: Mark Schiefelbein/AP