EU leaders promise that they will return if they have been ‘attacked’ by Tariff Donald Trump
Unlock the Bulletin on White House
Your guide for what American choices 2024 means for Washington and the world
EU leaders have vowed to take revenge on the possible tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, warning that both sides will hurt a trade war.
Trump said he would “absolutely” hit Europe with trade limitations, after a tariff he announced this weekend against China, Canada and Mexico. He has not yet described in detail what these possible measures could be or when applied.
“If we are attacked by trade issues, Europe, as a power that considers itself that, will have to respect each other and therefore respond,” French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday.
AND EU He has the biggest trade deficit with the US, which Trump has consistently rejected. Trump also requested that European capital spend significantly more on defense or risk losing US safety guarantees that supported the defense of the continent since World War II.
Macron, speaking at the beginning of the EU and NATO leader, who will discuss transatlantic issues and defense financing, he said that Europe should promote domestic products to strengthen its trade position: “By deciding to buy and prefer European purchases that are [Europe] It will be more independent, it’s pretty simple. “
The European Commission, which represents a block of 27 trade countries, has prepared potential retaliation This could be used in case Trump imposes tariffs. They kept the details secret in trying to provoke further to the US president.
“We listened carefully [Trump’s] Words and of course we are preparing on our side as well, “said EU’s main diplomat Kaja Kallas as she arrived at the Summit.
Two EU officials have been reported about the preparations, they said that the planning of extraordinary conditions was underway. “We’re ready to act if we need to,” one said.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that “as a strong economic area we can shape our own jobs and we can also respond to tariff policy policies.”
The trade war would be “bad for the US and bad for Europe,” Scholz said. But he also sought to reduce the effect of such a conflict, saying that Europe could renew the efforts to conclude more free trade contracts with other parts of the world.
Other EU leaders emphasized the need to continue to deal with Trump to avoid measures of types that move on to the trade war.
“We have to negotiate with Trump.. This is one of the most important questions today,” said Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. “I will not start the war. I want to start negotiations. “
Austrian chancellor Alexander Schallenberg pointed out that although he now has a trade deficit in the EU goods, the block had a “deficit in the US services. “So, we should be able to reach an agreement there.”
Lithuanian President Gitanas Naisėda said Europe should be involved in the “positive economic plan” with the US instead of “fighting” each other in the store. He suggested that you buy more weapons and a furnished natural gas from the USA.
“We have to suggest something that could be interesting and attractive to the United States such as the Free Trade Agreement in the automotive industry or such as buying more energy resources,” he said.
