US firms reaped rewards of unified European market, says EU official, rebuffing Trump's criticisms

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - US companies have hugely benefited from the unified European Union market, said an EU spokesperson on Thursday when asked about President Donald Trump's remarks accusing the bloc of seeking to “screw” the US.

"American companies have been able to invest and generate substantial revenues precisely because the EU is a large unified market that is good for business. This is also one of the key reasons why transatlantic trade amounts to over €1.5 trillion annually, making it the largest bilateral trade and investment relationship in the world," said Olof Gill, European Commission spokesperson for economic security, trade, financial services, interinstitutional relations, customs and UK relations.

Stressing that the union believes in the importance of bilateral ties, and in dialogue to solve problems between the EU and US, he added: “We’re ready to partner with you, provided you play by the rules. But we will also protect our consumers and businesses at every turn. They expect no less from us, and they deserve no less from us."

At a Wednesday Cabinet meeting, Trump lambasted the EU and vowed to implement 25% tariffs "generally speaking" on the 27-member bloc's exports "very soon."

The EU, Trump said, "was formed in order to screw the United States. That's the purpose of it, and they've done a good job of it. But now I'm president."