Trump wants to impose 50 percent tariffs on the EU

S. President Donald Trump said he was recommending a 50 percent tariff on the European Union (EU) from June 1 because trade negotiations are "going nowhere".

Trump said the EU "has been very difficult to deal with" and that the U.S. trade deficit with the bloc is "totally unacceptable".

A spokesperson for the European Commission told Newsweek it would not be commenting until after a scheduled call later today between trade officials.

The move by Trump marks a fresh escalation in his trade row with the EU, which he has previously accused of being created to "screw" the U.S.

The president has long touted tariffs as a way to protect U.S. consumers from unfair trade practices and would lead to a boost in U.S. manufacturing. Economic experts have pushed back saying that tariffs often lead to higher costs passed on to consumers.