(Reuters) – The United States may start bilateral negotiations with the countries to which they have imposed customs duties in order to conclude new trade agreements more favorable to their interests, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday.
President Donald Trump has imposed or threatened to impose customs duties on numerous trade partners in the United States, going so far as to brandish the threat of 200% rights on imports of wine, cognac and other alcohols from the European Union.
Guest of the CBS channel, Marco Rubio defended this policy of “reciprocity” on Sunday which risks relaunching inflation and bringing the American economy into recession.
“This is a world (commercial) war. It is not against Canada, it is not against Mexico, it is not against the European Union, it is against everyone,” he said during the program “Face The Nation”.
“Then, from this new basis of equity and reciprocity, we will commit ourselves – possibly – in bilateral negotiations with countries around the world on new trade agreements that will make sense to both parties,” he continued.
Marco Rubio did not provide any details on the form that these new agreements could take, but he insisted that it should treat the United States in a “fair” manner.
“The current status quo does not suit us. We will therefore create a new status quo (by imposing” reciprocal “customs duties, note), then we can negotiate something, if (the other countries) wish,” he said. “The current situation can no longer last.”
(Written by David Ljunggren; Tangi Salaün)
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