China has called the US a “bully” as Trump threatened to slap an additional 50% tariff on its biggest economic rival. Beijing has promised countermeasures but urges Washington to engage in dialogue.
Germany’s AfD split over Trump tariffs
The two co-leaders of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party have come out with contradictory stances on Donald Trump’s decision to impose 20% tariffs on EU imports to the US.
One half of the leading duo, Tino Chrupalla, told German daily newspaper Bild that he considered the move by the White House to be “understandable.”
“But sometimes you have the restrict free trade to protect your economy,” he said. “President Trump wants to force other countries to negotiate; He wants to improve the US trade balance and stimulate industry.”
“That is understandable,” he added.
However, his colleague, Alice Weidel, has called the tariffs “poison for free trade” and called on the EU to work to get them removed.
The AfD is ideologically close to the Trump administration on many issues.
The party, and Weidel in particular, have received strong backing from Trump adviser and tech billionaire Elon Musk.
