[explain]

Any other President would have left the EU's 26%* tariffs on America in place, while Trump is trying to get them all removed (or equal)

It's not like there was a zero-tariff situation before Trump's second term

* 5% avg tariff + then 20% avg VAT

[af78]

Who calls the US sales tax a "tariff"? Calling the EU VAT a "tariff" is just as wrong.

[Trasmatta]

I have a trade deficit with my local grocery store, I buy goods from them every week with a high sales tax tariff. But they don't import anything from me! I'm now implementing a blanket 100% base tariff on all grocery stores in the world.

[clipsy]

> 5% avg tariff + then 20% avg VAT

So, 5% tariffs.

[rsynnott]

Argh, this isn’t how anything works. Do you think that EU products are VAT-exempt or something?

Also, I mean, realistically most stuff that Europe buys from the US isn’t _final consumer products_; the VAT gets applied further down the chain. I’m struggling to think of a major US import that _is_ a final consumer product. Some alcohol, I suppose?

(Also, per the World Bank, the EU’s weighted effective tariffs (ie based on what is actually traded) are 1.39% (a little lower than the US’s pre-Trump II positioning); not sure where you got 5%.)

[Trasmatta]

> Trump is trying to get them all removed

No he's not