Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson urged the European Union to slash its auto tariffs on the US — an apparent bid to sway President Trump to lower his own hefty duties on foreign vehicles. The automaker, which is majority-owned by China’s Geely Holding, currently faces a steep 27.5% tariff on its imports.

President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened duties of 30% on products from Mexico and the European Union, two of America’s biggest trading partners, in an ongoing tariff campaign that’s upended global trade since he retook office in January.

The United States is threatening 30 percent tariffs on EU goods, risking a trade war as Brussels readies $84 billion in potential countermeasures. Talks continue amid fears of economic fallout and efforts to secure new trade deals worldwide.

European automakers are storing thousands of cars at ports in Europe holding out hope that US President Donald Trump will eventually relent and lower, or perhaps even abandon, sweeping tariffs. However, this appears to be increasingly unlikely and vehicles may continue to pile up at ports.

Tariffs expand: The administration has already imposed a 30% tariff on Chinese goods and is planning similar tariffs on imports from Mexico and the European Union, the nation’s top trading partners, as part of its push to reshape global trade in favor of U.S. manufacturing and jobs.

All but one of the 27 EU member countries voted to impose tariffs on specific U.S. products. The vote came before President Trump announced a 90-day pause on U.S. tariffs on goods from most countries.

President Donald Trump has posted two new letters on his social media platform announcing tariffs on the European Union and Mexico.

The only acceptable tariff on European Union exports to the United States would be zero as the bloc is already facing a detrimental exchange rate, the head of Italy's business lobby said on Wednesday.