[Skybird]

The EU has offered, last but not least under pressure from Germany, renegotiations and easing of existing tarrifs.

Whether the US has higher tarrifs on EU goods or the EU had higher tarrifs on US goods, can be endlessly debated. What Trump does not say is that the trade surplus of Europe that he talks of, is only one half of the truth. Non-material economy, namely IT licenses, and service businesses also count, here US companies are global super powers (MS, Google, Apple and the likes), but he ignores these, knowing that the US scores very heavily here. If these get counted as well, then it is the US that most likely has a trade surplus.

In the end, what Trump really is after, are two things. First, pleasing his fans: "See, I hunt the EU dragon and slay it, there!" Second, and that is far more important, he wants to weaken Europe'S negotiation position by dividing it and replacing the EU as the US only negotiation partner with a series of single nations with much weaker position each, who he then can dictate better terms and conditions in US-nation talks instead of US-EU talks. Shatter the block, and then pick up the pieces, that could be named as his motto.

A third effect he may be after, is the indirect weakening of the EU economy by making the fiscal engine of the EU, Germany, stutter. Damaging the car industry means damaging the core industry of Germany (as if you would do a similar attack to the US computer and software industry), Germany is very vulnerable there. A struggling Germany means a struggling EU.

Trump only sometimes tells rightout lies, he prefers to mix some lies with some half-truths, or to tell only half the truth and hide the other half that is more uncomfortable for his claims. In this he indeed is quite clever. What does not mean that he could be trusted any better.

Avoiding a trade war? The war is already there. He almost pearl-harboured Europe, Germany.