U.S. President Donald Trump and visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with reporters at the White House on Monday (April 7). Trump renewed his pressure on Japan regarding the U.S and Japan's trade relations, claiming that Japan needs to open up its markets.
Trump took to social media platforms on Monday to publicize his discussion of tariffs with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, insisting that Japan is taking advantage of the U.S. in the auto trade.
Under the "reciprocal tariffs" executive order signed by Trump on April 2, the U.S. will impose a 24 percent "reciprocal tariff" on Japan. The 25% tariff on imported automobiles has also come into effect.
Shigeru Ishiba said on April 3 that he was extremely disappointed that the U.S. still insisted on implementing the relevant measures despite the fact that the Japanese side had already started multi-channel communication with the U.S. side.
In addition, Trump said at the White House on Monday that energy sales to the EU would be a key focus as the U.S. seeks to eliminate its trade deficit with the EU.
Trump told reporters at the White House that the EU is bad, blaming European countries for not buying enough U.S. goods.
"They have to buy energy from us because they need it and they have to buy it from us. They can buy it and our country can cut US$350 billion in a week."
Recently Trump signed an executive order announcing "reciprocal tariffs" on all trading partners, including a 20% tariff on EU products. The European Union and other European countries have strongly opposed this, saying they will take countermeasures if necessary.
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