US President Donald Trump’s recent declaration to impose a 50% tariff on all EU imports starting June 1, 2025, has sent shockwaves through transatlantic trade circles. Announced on his social platform Truth Social, Trump accused the EU of “taking advantage of the United States” and vowed to make Brussels “very difficult to deal with.”
EU Leadership Strikes Back
European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic fired back on X, emphasizing that trade must be guided by mutual respect, not threats. He underlined the EU’s readiness to defend its interests and work “in good faith” toward a balanced deal.
Bernd Lange, chairman of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee, signaled that legislators will head to Washington next week “to demystify some misperceptions” about EU policy. He warned that if the US side is just seeking to rubber-stamp its demands, “they are knocking on the wrong door.”
Warnings Across the Continent
Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin called the move “enormously disappointing,” cautioning that such steep duties could “grievously damage one of the world’s most dynamic trading relationships.”
France’s Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Laurent Saint-Martin, labeled the threat “of no help during the negotiation period,” but pledged that Brussels would take retaliatory measures if pushed.
Germany’s economy and energy minister, Katherina Reiche, stressed that “tariff conflicts know no winners. Tariffs harm the United States and the EU in equal measure.”
Can Talks Survive the Tension?
With negotiations stalled and demands diverging, the path to a mutually beneficial agreement grows rockier. Global citizens, entrepreneurs, and policymakers will be watching closely as the EU insists on respect and reciprocity in one of the world’s biggest trade partnerships.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
