US president Donald Trump is taking aim at the European Union (EU) and tech firm Apple in his latest round of tariff threats.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, the president said that he had recommended a tariff rate of 50 per cent on goods from the European Union to start on June 1, in response to the US trade deficit with the bloc.
"The EU, which was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of the US on trade, has been very difficult to deal with," he wrote.
"Their powerful trade barriers, VAT taxes, ridiculous corporate penalties, non-monetary trade barriers, monetary manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against Americans companies, and more, have led to a trade deficit with the US of more than US$250 million a year, a number which is totally unacceptable."
"Our discussions with them are going nowhere! Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50 per cent tariff on the European Union, starting on June 1, 2025."
However, he has backed away from his threat to impose 50 per cent tariffs on imports from the European Union next month, restoring a July 9 deadline to allow for talks between Washington and the 27-nation bloc to produce a deal.
Mr Trump had also threatened Apple with tariffs of 25 per cent unless the company moved production to the US, writes London's Air Cargo News.
"I have long ago informed Tim Cook [chief executive] of Apple that I expect their iPhone's that will be sold in the US will be manufactured and built in the US, not India, or anyplace else. If that is not the case, a tariff of at least 25 per cent must be paid by Apple to the US," Mr Trump wrote.
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