Donald Trump is reportedly plotting to hit the European Union with punitive trade measures should he return to the White House in 2025.
The plans are motivated by Mr Trump’s “long-standing grievance” after the former President’s trade dispute with the EU where he imposed tariff hikes on steel and aluminum, Bloomberg reports.
People familiar with the Trump team’s economic plans were cited in the report.
The report adds: “If Trump wins in November, the EU undoubtedly will be one of his chief targets on trade, according to conversations with several Trump advisers.”
Mr Trump is also reportedly annoyed at Brussels over its perceived reluctance to take a tougher stance on China, whom the former President also engaged in a trade war with during his time in office.
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“We definitely need to try to solve the outstanding issues.”
Mr Trump has also criticised NATO nations in Europe over their failure to reach spending targets – three percent of GDP.
A report in January revealed that Trump told European leaders when he was President that “NATO is dead.”
In January, he also refused to commit to NATO at a Fox News town hall.
Mr Trump was asked: “Would you be committed to NATO in the second Trump term?”
He replied: “Depends on if they treat us properly. Look, NATO has taken advantage of our country. The European countries… took advantage of us on trade and then they took advantage of us on military protection.”
