EU leaders have indicated that the bloc would be prepared to react if US President, Donald Trump follows through on his threats to impose tariffs on European goods.
Speaking ahead of their informal meeting in Brussels, they repeatedly called for calm and stressed the value of EU-US cooperation but indicated that they would not hide away from responding with tariffs if targeted first.
EU Foreign Policy Chief, Kaja Kallas said that the bloc was “listening carefully” to Trump’s comments and preparing on its side to respond if needed.
However, she stressed that “there are no winners in trade wars” and pointed out that China would be the only beneficiary of that scenario.
“If US starts a trade war, the one laughing on the side is China. We are very interlinked. We need America, and America needs us as well.Tariffs increase costs, they are not good for costs, and for customers.”
Kaja Kallas
Also, French President, Emmanuel Macron said bluntly that if Europe is targeted on its trade and commercial interests, it will have to make itself respected. “If we are attacked in terms of trade, Europe – as a true power – will have to stand up for itself and therefore react,” he asserted.
Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk said that the EU should do all it can to avoid “totally unnecessary and stupid tariff wars.”
He stated that it would be a “cruel paradox” if the EU was tested in such a way by a close ally while at the same time having to deal with “this direct Russian threat and Chinese expansion.”
He noted that the response to Trump could be the first serious test of the EU’s unity on this, though he noted that it comes “in a very strange context,” given the tariff threat comes from an ally.
Additionally, Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, who is already embroiled in a separate crisis with Trump over the future of Greenland, said that while she would typically “never support fighting allies, if the US puts tough tariffs on Europe, we need a collective and robust response.”
Luxembourg’s Prime Minister, Luc Frieden also said that the answer to tariffs is “to reply with [the] same action.”
Calls For Cooperation In Dealing With Trump’s Tariffs
Nonetheless, some leaders struck a more conciliatory tone.
German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz said that any tariffs would be “bad for the US and bad for Europe,” and stressed the need for cooperation to resolve this situation.
Finnish Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo stressed, “We have to negotiate with Trump,” before adding, “I am not going to start a war, I want to start negotiations.”
New Prime Minister of Ireland, Micheál Martin, expressed that the European Union has to act as one, adding that the bloc is an economic entity and its members have a single market.
“Trade is, as you know, the competency of the commission, but obviously member states have an input into how Europe will respond, how Europe navigates this period. So first of all, we have to see what happens, and assess it and measure it, calibrate the impacts, and then develop our response.
“But I wouldn’t do anything prematurely right now, until we see what exactly is being proposed, if something is being proposed.”
Micheál Martin
Irish Deputy Prime Minister, Simon Harris also warned that Donald Trump poses “significant challenges” for Ireland and Europe if he imposes tariffs on goods imported to the US as he has done with Canada and Mexico.
“Ireland is at the centre of the European Union and any imposition of tariffs on the EU would create significant challenges.
“Europe must and will work collectively and with the United States to avoid such a situation emerging and if necessary to mitigate any measures taken.”
Simon Harris
Ireland, which has a large pharmaceutical export sector courtesy of US multinationals, is one of three countries in the EU along with Germany and Italy that have a trade in goods surplus with the US.
However, it is in deficit in services.
Harris’s remarks come as Ireland braces itself for ill winds from the US, historically one of its closest trading and cultural allies on foot of historic emigration.
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