On Wednesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel sent out a dire warning as threats from Donald Trump’s continue.
Many have speculated that Trump’s threat to impose heavy tariffs on auto imports from Europe and the tariffs he has already imposed could lead to a full-out trade war.
Merkel told German lawmakers that right now it’s just a “trade conflict.” But she warned that if Trump continues down this path, it will turn into a trade war.
“We now have tariffs on aluminum and steel and we have a discussion that is far more serious,” Merkel said, pointing to Trump’s threats to slap tariffs on European auto exports to the U.S.
“This has the character of a trade conflict,” she continued. “I don’t want to use any other word for now. It’s worth every effort to try to defuse this conflict, so it doesn’t turn into a war. But this obviously takes two.”
German Chancellor Merkel on Trump tariffs:
"This has the character of a trade conflict … It's worth every effort to try to defuse this conflict so it doesn't turn into a war. But this obviously takes two." pic.twitter.com/vVYrrsUBPF
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 4, 2018
In May, Trump decided to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the European Union, Canada, and Mexico. This move infuriated many key U.S. allies. They described the move as a dangerous form of economic protectionism.
But Trump hasn’t backed down. Since May, the U.S. president has threatened to include a possible 20 percent tariff on all European cars shipped to the U.S.
RELATED: Dozens Of Ex-Military Officials Are Now Defying Trump And Sign On To Oppose His Transgender Ban
