AGRICULTURE/EU/TARIFFS/TRADE DEALS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump slammed critics of his trade policies on Wednesday [7-25-18], warning they are undermining his negotiating position while American farmers are being ‘ripped off.’ Mr. Trump’s remarks, aimed at critics he didn’t name, came hours ahead of a meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in which trade tensions between the U.S. and the European bloc are expected to dominate. The Europeans come to Washington with potential auto tariffs weighing heavily on their minds. Last week, Mr. Trump threatened ‘tremendous retribution’ if his meeting with the EU officials doesn’t lead to what he considers to be a fair auto-trade deal. On Tuesday [7-14-18] night, Mr. Trump suggested he was willing to make concessions if Europe would. He wrote on Twitter, ‘Both the U.S. and the E.U. drop all Tariffs, Barriers and Subsidies! That would finally be called Free Market and Fair Trade!’ Mr. Trump is also scheduled to meet with lawmakers on Wednesday to discuss his administration’s proposed plan to offer $12 billion in aid to farmers hardest hit by retaliatory tariffs imposed by U.S. trading partners. Many lawmakers expressed skepticism that the plan would yield long-term prosperity for American farmers. Mr. Trump insisted on Wednesday that the domestic political pushback accomplishes nothing but delays and hinders his ability to negotiate a deal.”
-Vivian Salama, “Ahead of EU Meeting, Trump Rails at Domestic Critics,” The Wall Street Journal, July 25, 2018 9:19 am