Trade War with Europe: Trump's tariffs threats E.U.
Donald Trump denounced on Truth Social that negotiations with the European Union in Brussels “are not progressing” and proposed a 50% tariff on European products as of June 1.
Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that negotiations with the European Union, in Brussels, were "going nowhere." The President suggested that he would apply a 50% tariff to products from the EU starting on June 1. This is the newest remark against the Union, amid a broader souring of their relations.
Brussels pushed back against Donald Trump's post, saying that their relationship must be based on "respect, not threats." Despite this declaration, the tension between the U.S. and the E.U. has been growing since 2018, when The President named them an "economic rival" during his first term in 2018.
Trump's administration against the E.U.
Donald Trump is supported by many people around him in his position against Brussels. In February, Vice President J.D. Vance criticized European leaders at the Munich Security Conference. Vance talked about topics ranging from free speech to migration and defense.
But he is not the only one. Elon Musk, the richest man in the world and close adviser to Trump's second term, supports the idea of Germany leaving the U.S., a notion advocated by Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany Party.
The last summit between European Union and the United Kingdom, when they accorded new defense agreement. Photo: AFP News
U.E. is preparing for Trump's distance
Last Friday, the E.U. Trade Commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, said that “E.U.-U.S. trade is unmatched and must be guided by mutual respect, not threat.” He assured that they are seeking "a deal that works for both," and called on U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to pursue the same achievement between the two global powers.
However, despite this willingness to negotiate, last weekend, the E.U. and the United Kingdom started to reestablish their relations after Donald Trump stated that the U.S. will not continue supporting Ukraine in Russia's invasion. That led to a commission between Downing Street and Brussels, strengthening their relationship on topics like work, commerce, travel, and most importantly, defense.
