The president’s threats to slap duties on goods imported from the European Union are part of a pattern of directing the harshest penalties at the United States’ closest allies.

President Donald Trump's tariff dispute with China, Canada and Mexico over fentanyl smuggling and illegal immigration has led to retaliation by the Chinese government.

After Trump took Mexico and Canada to the brink of trade wars, both nations have managed to defuse his tariff bombs. (At least, for now . . . ) Trump halted sweeping tariffs on the US’s two biggest trading partners after separate bilateral phone calls with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.