President Donald Trump said Monday the U.S. will be talking with European officials about eliminating tariffs it believes hurt the American economy.
Trump, in a Twitter remark, said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross plans to talk with European Union officials about what the president described as "large Tariffs and Barriers they use against the U.S.A."
He said the levies are "not fair to our farmers and manufacturers."
His tweet echoed comments this past weekend, when he said Europe has "wonderful countries who treat the U.S. very badly on trade."
Trump, representing the world's single largest economy, and officials of the 28-nation EU, collectively the biggest economy, have sparred over Trump's imposition of a new 25 percent tariff on steel imports to the U.S. and 10 percent on aluminum imports.
In response, EU officials have threatened to add taxes to an array of signature U.S. exports, including Harley Davidson motorcycles, blue jeans, bourbon, cranberries and orange juice.
Trump in turn has suggested that if the Europeans boost tariffs on U.S. products he would impose new levies on popular German cars exported to the U.S.
Europe's top trade official, Cecilia Malmstroem, said trade is being used "as a weapon to threaten and intimidate us."
"But we are not afraid, we will stand up to the bullies," she said.
Top U.S. and EU trade officials met Saturday in Brussels, but failed to iron out their differences. Malmstroem said talks would continue this week.
美国总统川普星期一说，美国将跟欧盟官员讨论他认为伤害美国经济的关税问题举行磋商。
川普在推特发文说，商务部长罗斯计划跟欧盟官员讨论总统所称的“欧盟对美国征收的高关税和贸易壁垒”。
川普说，这些征税“对我们的农民和制造商不公平”。
川普的推文跟刚过去的这个周末他的表态基本一致，当时川普说，欧盟有“非常美好的国家，但他们在贸易上对美国非常糟糕。”
代表世界上最大单一经济体的川普以及统称为最大经济体的欧盟28个成员国的官员，在川普向进口钢材和铝材分别征收25%和10%关税后发生争执。
作为回应，欧盟官员威胁要对进口自美国的标志性商品加税，这些商品包括哈雷摩托车、牛仔裤、波本威士忌、蔓越橘和橘子汁等。
川普于是暗示，如果欧盟对美国产品提高关税，他就会对德国出口到美国的热卖汽车征收新税。
欧盟最高贸易官员马尔斯托姆表示，贸易正被用做威胁和恐吓我们的手段。她说，但是我们不惧怕，我们将勇敢面对对我们欺侮。
美国、欧盟最高贸易官员星期六在布鲁塞尔会面，但是没有消除他们之间的分歧。马尔斯托姆表示，本星期会继续磋商。