US trade partners criticize Trump for a 25 percent steel, aluminum tariffs | International Trade News

The allies like Canada called the tariff “unacceptable”, claiming that poor economic integration and hurt economics.

Several main trade partners of the United States condemned the decision of President Donald Trump to increase tariff rates to all steel and aluminum Import that starts next month.

The leaders from Mexico, Canada and the European Union have been described Move As a reckless and counterproductive, they warn that they will respond to their own measures in Natura.

“I deeply regret the US decision to impose tariffs to European exports of steel and aluminum,” Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, re -confirmed in social media publish. “The EU will act on the protection of its economic interests.”

The EU has already called the tariff “unjustified” and warned that it would “launch a company and a proportional countermeasure.”

Reactions come the day after Trump signed Executive command Announcement of the 25 percent tariff as a “means of reducing imports” and “stimulating investment and expansion of production by domestic steel manufacturers”. Trump also asked this issue as a matter of national security.

“It’s 25 percent without exception or exemption,” Trump told reporters. “These are all countries, no matter where it comes from. All countries.”

Tariffs will enter into force on March 12 and affect millions of tons of imports from countries like Canada, Brazil, Mexico and South Korea that have previously entered the US, mostly without import duties.

Most of his political career Trump has picked up The effects of free trade, which show agreements with foreign countries as “bad contracts” that exploit the US.

“We are also distributed by a friend and enemy,” Trump said as he signed orders on Monday. “It’s time for our big industry to return to America.”

But his announcement caused anxiety because of a potential economic fall that could come escalating measures and the countermeasures between the USA of his key trade partners.

Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebord said new tariffs were not “justified”, while Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called them “unacceptable.”

Trudeau added that he would cooperate with Trump’s administration to emphasize the “negative influences” of the tariff. Canada provides nearly 80 percent of American imports of aluminum.

“We are the closest ally of the US. Our economy is integrated. The Canadian steel and aluminum are used in numerous key American industries, whether it is defense, shipbuilding, production, energy, car,” Trudeau said on Tuesday. “Together North America makes us more competitive.”

But the Prime Minister added that if forced, Canada would respond to retail tariffs.

“If that happens, our answer, of course, will be firm and clear. We will advocate for Canadian workers. We will advocate for the Canadian industry.”

In Brazil, the industrial lobby group Aco Brasil also said that it was “surprised” by Trump’s tariffs, claiming that tax trips would not benefit either in the country.

Critique of the Free Trade Agreement in the US, from the right and left, is not new.

For years, work groups and environmental activists have argued that free trade contracts allow companies to put pressure on the salaries of domestic workers, move jobs abroad and release restrictions on environmental and work.

But experts said that, after a decade of economic integration, tariffs It could increase supply chains and impose increased costs to companies and consumers.

“Small companies lead on very small sidelines. And thus will harm the increase in any 25 percent product,” said Sandra Payne, owner Denver Becte Vibrator, who imports steel and other raw materials, for Associated Press News Agency.

“And we can’t just increase our prices every time the costs are attending us, so we lose a lot of money.”