Donald Trump derided global leaders, claiming they are desperately seeking deals with him. He used the phrase 'they're kissing my ass' to describe their efforts. This statement followed the announcement of increased tariffs on Chinese imports, rising to 104%, and the impending announcement of further tariffs on the pharmaceutical industry. Trump justified the latter by citing the high cost of medications in the US compared to other countries.
The PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) called Trump a "ridiculous character." Patxi López, PSOE spokesperson in Congress, emphasized the seriousness of Trump's threats due to the impact of the tariffs. ERC (Republican Left of Catalonia) compared Trump's behavior to that of Madrid's president, Isabel DÃaz Ayuso, suggesting a focus on self-promotion and grabbing attention.
The EU expressed its willingness to negotiate with the US but also warned of potential retaliatory measures against Trump's protectionist policies. The White House stated that approximately 70 countries have initiated negotiations to lower tariffs in exchange for measures addressing trade imbalances with the US.