President Trump on Tuesday accused the European Union of “protectionist” policies and ordered the political and economic bloc to stop shielding itself from U.S. competition.
“Working on major Trade Deal with the United Kingdom. Could be very big & exciting. JOBS! The E.U. is very protectionist with the U.S. STOP!” Trump wrote on Twitter.
As a presidential candidate, Trump campaigned on leaving or renegotiating existing free-trade deals, which he has dubbed unfair to the U.S.
{mosads}In fact, Trump has faced accusations of protectionism from major U.S. economic partners in Europe.
In his first days in office, Trump also signed an executive order effectively shutting down the country’s efforts to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership — a sweeping trade deal with Pacific nations negotiated under former President Obama.
Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May, however, reaffirmed plans to complete a bilateral trade deal between their two countries during a Group of Seven summit in May.