AFP, Brussels :
The EU’s trade surplus with the United States reached a record level in 2018, data showed Friday, increasing the risk that US President Donald Trump’s anger could reignite a trade war.
Trump is a furious critic of Europe’s high trade surpluses, accusing the EU – and especially Germany – of unfair practices against US workers, much like he does with China.
Last year, his government imposed punitive tariffs on steel and aluminium from Europe and other partners, and this was met with countermeasures by the EU, including duties on US motorcycles and denim jeans.
In 2018, the EU trade surplus with the US reached 139.7 billion euros, 20.1 billion more than in 2017, according to the EU’s Eurostat data agency.
The new data lands as the US Commerce department is reported to have found that auto imports into the US threaten national security, the first step toward possible auto tariffs by Washington.
The report is expected to be delivered to the White House by a Sunday deadline and has been seen as a major risk for EU automakers.
The EU’s trade surplus with the United States reached a record level in 2018, data showed Friday, increasing the risk that US President Donald Trump’s anger could reignite a trade war.
Trump is a furious critic of Europe’s high trade surpluses, accusing the EU – and especially Germany – of unfair practices against US workers, much like he does with China.
Last year, his government imposed punitive tariffs on steel and aluminium from Europe and other partners, and this was met with countermeasures by the EU, including duties on US motorcycles and denim jeans.
In 2018, the EU trade surplus with the US reached 139.7 billion euros, 20.1 billion more than in 2017, according to the EU’s Eurostat data agency.
The new data lands as the US Commerce department is reported to have found that auto imports into the US threaten national security, the first step toward possible auto tariffs by Washington.
The report is expected to be delivered to the White House by a Sunday deadline and has been seen as a major risk for EU automakers.
