The U.S. will impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, Mexico and the European Union starting on Friday. Trump’s ill-advised Tariffs Provoked Anger and Retaliation from US Allies.

The tariffs make good on President Donald Trump’s threats and show the administration is maximizing pressure to win concessions from allies, while simultaneously negotiating through a high-stakes trade conflict with China, seen as an economic competitor.

Besides steel and aluminum, the U.S. administration is studying whether tariffs should be imposed on imported cars and auto parts under the same law that gives Mr. Trump wide authority to erect trade barriers under the banner of national security.

“This is dumb,” said Sen. Ben Sasse, a Nebraska Republican. “Europe, Canada, and Mexico are not China, and you don’t treat allies the same way you treat opponents.”

Sen. Orrin Hatch, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said in a statement: “Tariffs on steel and aluminum imports are a tax hike on Americans and will have damaging consequences for consumers, manufacturers and workers. I will continue to push the administration to change course.”

Via translation from WirtschaftsWoche, Trump wants to block Daimler from the US market.

US President Donald Trump has announced to French President Emmanuel Macron to exclude German premium car makers from the US market. On Macron’s visit to Washington in April, Trump said he would maintain his trade policy until no Mercedes models rolled on Fifth Avenue in New York. This reports the WirtschaftsWoche, citing several diplomats from Europe and the United States.

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