Trump spoke to the WTO on the issue of automobile tariffs

According to foreign media reports, US President Donald Trump warned the World Trade Organization (WTO) on July 2, saying that if the United States is not properly treated, "we will take action." A few hours ago, the EU said that US auto tariffs would damage the US auto industry and incur retaliation.

When Trump met with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at the White House, he told reporters that "the World Trade Organization has a very bad attitude toward the United States. I hope they can change their practices." Trump said the United States was treated unfairly because the EU currently imposes a 10% tariff on US imports, while the United States imposes a 2.5% tariff on imported cars. Trump attributed the reason to the imperfect organization of the WTO and urgently needed reform.

Earlier, the Axios news website reported that the Trump administration had drafted a bill called the US Fair and Reciprocal Tariff Act, allowing the White House to unilaterally raise tariffs without the congressional approval. If the bill goes into effect, it means that the United States will abandon the WTO rules, including prohibiting member states from setting different tariff rates for countries other than free trade agreements, and tariffs must not exceed the established tariff ceilings agreed by WTO members.

The United States "has a great disadvantage at the WTO. We don't have any plans for this, but if they don't treat the US properly, we will take action." Trump said so, but did not elaborate on it.

Last week, a source familiar with Trump’s thoughts revealed to Reuters that Trump had privately expressed his willingness to withdraw from the WTO, but this is not a serious proposal. Later in the local time on July 2, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said that Trump's focus is on solving global trade problems rather than withdrawing from the WTO as the basis of the post-war global trading system.

Sanders said, "Trump wants to see the WTO improve, and this is what he is currently focusing on. Trump clearly expressed his concern that there are many injustices in the WTO, and China and other countries use the WTO. The advantage, we are focused on promoting WTO reform."