DHAKA: US President Donald Trump has said German Chancellor Angela Merkel made “one very catastrophic mistake” by admitting more than one million migrants.

He said Merkel was by far Europe’s most important leader, and that the EU had become a vehicle for Germany.

Trump was giving details of his foreign policy goals in an interview with British and German newspapers, reports the BBC.

He said his priority was to create fairer trade deals for the US and have strong borders.

The US had to address its trade deficit with the rest of the world, particularly with China, he added.

The emphasis for his administration should be smart trade, rather than free trade, he said.

The interview was conducted for the Times by UK MP Michael Gove, who played a key role in the Vote Leave campaign that led to Brexit, and who also has a column in the newspaper.

BDST: 1616 HRS, JAN 16, 2017
RY/BD