Trump: EU formed to take advantage of US
The US President took aim at Brussels, saying America was in “tremendous economic competition” with Europe, which has “never treated us well.”
Speaking during a press conference in the Rose Garden of the White House, he said: “Don’t forget we’re in competition with China and many other countries throughout the world. “We’re in tremendous economic competition, including Europe, which has never treated us well.
“The European Union was formed to take advantage of the United States. They formed, and they take advantage of the United States. And I know that, and they know I know that, but other Presidents had no idea.” The EU was created in the wake of the Second World War to foster economic cooperation and prevent further conflict between European countries.
The Union traces its origins back to the European Coal and Steel Community, which was established in 1951 to integrate coal and steel industries. In 1958 the European Economic Community (EEC) was formed to improve cooperation between Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
The EEC changed its name to the European Union (EU) in 1993 to reflect its growing involvement in policy areas such as development aid and the environment. That is not the first time Trump, an outspoken critic of the EU and Brexit supporter, has accused the Union of being formed to “take advantage of the United States”. He said the EU had done a “brilliant” job of doing so but said it’s “not right” in previous comments.
Trump went on to say he has exposed the EU. Speaking at the conference, he said: “The US can’t continue to keep losing that kind of money that they’ve lost, literally since the formation of the Union.” Trump’s hostility towards the bloc comes amid a trade conflict with Brussels, which started in March 2018 when the President announced he would hike tariffs on steel and aluminum. The move hit steel with 25 percent and aluminum with 10 percent, leading EU figures to hit back with a furious response. The then-European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker promised a firm reaction as Brussels prepared for hefty economic hits.