EU pledges to respond to Trump in case of a trade war
Photo: The EU will respond to Trump in case of tariffs (Getty Images)
Europe can respond to the new US tariffs if President Donald Trump follows through on his recent threats. European leaders vow to retaliate if necessary, according to Bloomberg.
“It always would be good — both for the US and for Europe — if we cooperate,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters in Brussels before an informal meeting of EU leaders. “But what is clear is the basis for talking is knowing one’s own strength: Europe can act.”
After imposing significant new tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, Trump said that the European Union would soon be hit as well. “They take almost nothing, and we take everything, and then millions of cars, tremendous amounts of food and farm products,” Trump told reporters.
www.bloomberg.com
EU leaders were meeting to discuss defense spending in the context of Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine and Trump's demands that the bloc increase defense spending.
“It would be cruel if during the time of a direct Russian threat and Chinese expansion, and all these dangerous things, we would find a reason to be in conflict among allies,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters. “We have to do everything to avoid it — totally unnecessary and stupid tariff war or trade wars.”
For several months, the EU has been working on a set of potential retaliatory measures in the event of Trump's tariffs, although the details of the list have been closely guarded. On Sunday, an EU official said that the bloc would react strongly if Trump imposed tariffs.
“If we were attacked on trade issues, Europe, as a power that stands up for itself, will have to make itself respected and therefore react,” French President Emmanuel Macron said.
EU leaders are making every effort to remind the Trump administration of the economic value of EU-US trade, as well as the risks of fueling a trade conflict with its closest allies.
“If the US and Europe start a trade war, the one laughing on the side is China,” said Kaja Kallas, EU foreign policy chief.
Mette Frederiksen of Denmark warned at a briefing for the Danish media that “if the US imposes tariffs, we have no choice but to respond forcefully.” And Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden said: “If someone wants a trade war, they can have it.”
EU leaders, especially from countries bordering Russia, also called on member states to focus more urgently on increasing their defense spending.
Calling for a deal with the US, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said: “I hope we will understand the brutal geopolitical reality of today,” adding that the EU cannot wait until the next budget cycle, which begins in 2028, to meet its defense needs.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has called for at least €100 billion in total EU defense spending, but other countries, including Germany, have strongly resisted calls for new joint debt.
