Dutch prime minister counters Trump on tariffs: ‘It’s not positive’

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte pushed back against President Trump’s tariffs against European goods, saying they were “not positive.”

His remarks came as the two leaders spoke with reporters at the White House on Monday.

Trump said “a lot of good things” were happening in discussions with leaders of the European Union (EU) amid a trade fight.

{mosads}

“If we do work it out, that will be positive,” Trump said. “And if we don’t, it will be positive also, because —“

“No,” Rutte interrupted with a smile.

“Just think about those cars that pour in here,” Trump finished saying. 

“It’s not positive. We have to work something out,” Rutte insisted.

TRUMP: “The EU… If we do work it out, that will be positive. And if we don’t, it will be positive also, because – ”

DUTCH PM RUTTE: “No.”

TRUMP: “— just think about those cars that pour in here.”

RUTTE: “It’s not positive. We have to work something out.” pic.twitter.com/KGDCkUKDSP

— Mick Krever (@mickbk) July 2, 2018

The meeting with the prime minister of the Netherlands follows Trump’s decision to impose billions of dollars’ worth of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the EU and other countries.

Trump has also threatened to slap steep tariffs on all European cars.

“Based on the Tariffs and Trade Barriers long placed on the U.S. & its great companies and workers by the European Union, if these Tariffs and Barriers are not soon broken down and removed, we will be placing a 20% Tariff on all of their cars coming into the U.S. Build them here!” Trump tweeted last month.

Based on the Tariffs and Trade Barriers long placed on the U.S. & its great companies and workers by the European Union, if these Tariffs and Barriers are not soon broken down and removed, we will be placing a 20% Tariff on all of their cars coming into the U.S. Build them here!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 22, 2018

The EU has threatened retaliatory tariffs totaling $294 billion on a broad range of U.S. exports.