Dealing with European Comm ‘tougher than China’: Trump

ANKARA

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday the European Commission is harder to deal with than China in trade negations.

During a press conference at the World Economic Forum in Davos, before departing for Washington, Trump said he met with the President of the European Commission to discuss the issue.

"The European Commission was, frankly, in many ways tougher than China," Trump said. "I say that respectfully, but that's the way it is, they've taken advantage for a long time."

Trump stressed that if common ground on a trade deal is not found, Washington would have to do something else, hinting at tariffs and sanctions.

"I think they're gonna make a deal. They haven't wanted to negotiate with past presidents, but they're going to negotiate with me," Trump added.

He said the World Trade Organization (WTO) was the vehicle that strengthened China's hand.

"The World Trade Organization has been very unfair to the United States for many, many years," he said. "And without it, China wouldn't be China. China wouldn't be where they are right now."

Trump also announced Director-General of the WTO Roberto Azevedo will visit Washington "next week or week after that" with a delegation to discuss what needs to change at the WTO.

Standing along with Trump during the conference, Azevedo said the WTO has to change and update to be more relevant.

Responding to questions on environmental policies by reporters who recalled earlier criticism by Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, Trump, after sarcastically confirming her age with a reporter, said: "She beat me out on Time Magazine [person of the year]."

Trump then defended his administration's policies on environment, saying the U.S. is in good standing and other countries should do more to live up to global environmental goals.

Regarding his impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate, Trump said would let senators decided if witnesses would be called to testify. “I'll leave that to the Senate," he said.

"Honestly, they can't beat me in the election," he triumphantly said, referring to previous comments of a Democratic congressman.

Congressman Al Green said in September: "I'm concerned that if we don't impeach this president, he will get re-elected."