BRUSSELS, May 1 – A leading European Union trade official has sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s proposal to raise automotive tariffs on European vehicles, describing the United States as an unreliable partner in international commerce.
Bernd Lange, who chairs the EU parliament’s trade committee, delivered his rebuke on Friday following Trump’s tariff announcement. “This latest move demonstrates just how unreliable the U.S. side is,” Lange stated. “This is no way to treat close partners. Now we can only respond with the utmost clarity and firmness, drawing on the strength of our position.”
The trade committee chairman characterized Trump’s actions as “unacceptable” and pointed to what he described as ongoing violations of existing trade agreements between the two economic powers.
Lange emphasized that the European Union has been following through on a framework agreement negotiated with the United States in Scotland during the previous year. That deal established a 15% import duty on the majority of European goods and helped prevent a more extensive trade conflict.
According to Lange, American officials have consistently violated the terms of that agreement. He specifically cited “over 400 products containing steel and aluminium, which are now subject to an average tariff of 26 percent” as examples of U.S. breaches of the trade framework.
