The European Union has responded with solidarity and determination following US President Donald Trump’s announcement on Sunday that import tariffs on the EU are “definitely happening.”
Ahead of an informal meeting on security issues, European leaders seemed to reach a consensus that the EU would oppose any US-imposed tariffs if implemented.
German chancellor Olaf Scholz said the bloc “can react to tariff policies with tariff policies”.
“We must and will do that, but the perspective and aim should be that we proceed in such a way so that things come down to cooperation,” the leader of Europe’s largest economy added.
As Trump’s moves forward his foreign policy agenda and the war in Ukraine further limits European dependence on Russian gas, the EU is looking to become more independent, both economically and militarily.
“We have to do everything to avoid this totally unnecessary and stupid tariff war,” said Polish PM Donald Tusk, adding that “we cannot lose common sense, we cannot lose awareness of our interests. At the same time, we cannot lose our European self-respect and self-confidence. It’s not easy, but we’ll see.”
The prime minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, said she “does not support fighting allies,” but that Denmark will cooperate and respond to US tariffs.
Ireland’s Taoiseach, Micheál Martin said that “One thing is clear, the EU must act as one,” warning that the EU-US trade relationship is the biggest in the world and “inflation will harm citizens.”
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said there would be “no winners” in a trade war with the US. She stressed that tariffs would impact jobs and prices, adding that China would be “the one laughing on the side”.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, meanwhile, stressed the need to “switch to a positive economic agenda” with the US, suggesting the EU acquire more liquid natural gas (LNG) as well as procure additional military equipment from its long-time ally.
British PM Sir Keir Starmer is also set to attend the meeting, as he seeks to “reset” relations with the EU. He is the first British PM to meet with EU leaders since Brexit.
On his part, Trump on Sunday called the European Union’s €300 billion deficit with the USA an “atrocity”, while also hinting at potentially imposing import tariffs on the UK. He did, however, allow for a change of heart when it came to the UK by adding that things “could be worked out” with Starmer.
Trump’s threat to impose import taxes on the UK and the EU came just a day after Canada and Mexico ordered retaliatory tariffs on American goods in response to sweeping US tariffs imposed on Saturday.
Trump had declared an economic emergency in the US so that he could place duties of 10% on all imports from China and 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada.
