(CNN) President Donald Trump placed more pressure on the stalled trade talks with the European Union Wednesday, threatening tariffs on European automobiles if no deal is reached.

"The European Union has been very tough on the United States for many years," Trump told reporters on Wednesday, saying the auto tariffs were under review. "We're looking at something to combat it."

Trump received a report from the Commerce Department last month with the findings of an investigation into whether imports of automobiles and auto parts could qualify for tariffs as a national security threat under an obscure Cold-War era statute. The report and its recommendations have not been made public; Trump has until the middle of May to choose a course of action.

On Wednesday, Trump said his decision would hinge on how talks with the EU proceed.

He has long threatened to impose hefty tariffs on European autos and auto parts. Tensions heightened last year after Trump slapped tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum, leading the EU to retaliate with tariffs on American products. The President reached a ceasefire with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker last July, when the two agreed to pursue a bilateral trade deal.

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