Trump Threatens EU with Tariffs over Energy Trade

President-elect Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to the European Union, threatening to impose tariffs unless the EU increases its purchases of American oil and gas to address the trade imbalance. Trump emphasized this demand on Truth Social, highlighting the 'tremendous deficit' with the U.S., which stood at $202.5 billion in 2022. The European Union has expressed readiness to discuss strengthening energy relations with the U.S., noting their commitment to diversifying energy sources away from Russian imports. Trump's threats are consistent with his broader strategy of using tariffs as leverage to bolster American economic interests and manufacturing. This move aligns with his campaign promises to ramp up fossil fuel production and reduce trade deficits. The EU, already a significant importer of U.S. LNG, is considering these terms amid existing geopolitical tensions and its efforts to replace Russian energy supplies.