Trump blasted at home and abroad for plan to impose steel, aluminum tariffs
Some of the harshest initial reactions came from members of Trump's own party, who have traditionally championed free trade.
President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs of 25 percent on steel imports and 10 percent on aluminum reverberated across the world Thursday, spurring retaliatory threats from some of the nation’s closest allies and sending stock prices plummeting on investors’ fears of the global economic fallout.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called Trump's decision "a blatant intervention to protect U.S. domestic industry" under the guise of national security. He said he would submit a proposal in the next few days to hit back at the U.S.
"We will not sit idly while our industry is hit with unfair measures that put thousands of European jobs at risk,” Juncker said. “The EU will react firmly and commensurately to defend our interests."
The timing of the announcement also embarrassed Mexico and Canada, longtime allies and trading partners, which are in the midst of the seventh round of talks with the U.S. to renegotiate NAFTA.
Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said any restrictions against Canadian steel imports would be "absolutely unacceptable." She noted that Canada, a longtime U.S. ally and trading partner, buys more American steel than any other country in the world, accounting for half of U.S. exports.
"Should restrictions be imposed on Canadian steel and aluminum products, Canada will take responsive measures to defend its trade interests and workers,” she said.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/01/trump-steel-tariffs-432143
Trump is snuggling up to our enemies and attacking our friends. Unless he's being blackmailed by Putin, he really is a moron.