— We gotta react.. We can’t just do nothing,” said 1 EU diplomat who asked to stay anonymous. — Negotiations are always the best solution,” added another Brussels official. The 3rd advocated taking both approaches simultaneously.
The hazard of retaliation can further enrage the leader of the MAGA movement. The hazard of stopping can make Trump stay encouraged to decision on.
The first period of the fresh president in the White home reflects global economical and political standards. However, there is inactive a conversation window — although this time seems to be moving out quickly.
In a month, March 12, they are to enter into force 25 % work on all steel and aluminiumwhich are imported to the United States. There are presently no exemptions for the EU or the UK.
Trump's hands include not only American economical power, but besides US military power. European governments are well aware that the decision to hit the White home can anger the unpredictable president and tip the balance of his reasoning on another issues, including possibly future U.S. support for Ukraine.
One step distant from the trade war
Trump has already threatened to take military action against Denmark to take Greenland — mineral-rich Danish territory in the Arctic. The biggest fear of European capitals is that a Republican will impose a peace agreement on Ukraine regardless of any crucial contribution from Kiev or Brussels.
Both European and British officials had long known Trump might want to impose duties — policy advocated protectionist measures during his run last year — and accordingly They've prepared retaliation measures.. But the similarities end there.
W London Government Keira Starmera he dealt with the fresh president as mildly as possible, seeking to appeal to his desire to enter into agreements which are in his own interest, by combining flattery and private requests and refraining from public criticism.
Even in the substance of customs, the signals are that Starmer will do everything in his power to avoid retaliation in the form of measures on imports from the US, in the hope that Trump will yet meet his promise to scope an agreement with Britain.
Until now the mantra of Brussels has been waiting and observingAnd officials said there was nothing to gain by reacting with outrage all time the president made a noise. This line gave way on Tuesday erstwhile the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has issued a sharp reprimand for Trump's proclamations concerning steel and aluminum.
EU measures set
"Tariffs are taxes — bad for business, worse for consumers," said von der Leyen. She added that the ‘unwarned’ duties on steel and aluminium introduced by Trump would ‘not stay unanswered’.
The message by the president of the Commission was welcomed on Tuesday by any more hawk diplomats in Brussels who want to The EU has faced the United States more strongly.
Later that day von der Leyen met in Paris with U.S. Vice president J.D. Vance at the margins of the AI Summit, although what they were discussing about customs did not scope a public reading of the discussion by either party.
The von der Leyen officials have a set of measures at their disposal, including a fast restoration of customs duties on American exports of goods specified as bourbon whisky, Harley-Davidson motorcycles and cranberry juice.
Brussels imposed these restrictions after Trump first announced duties on steel and aluminium in 2018. They were abolished erstwhile the truce in the trade war was reached later, during Joe Biden's tenure.
EU trade ministers will have a quick-organised telephone call on Wednesday to discuss tensions, and von der Leyen officials are preparing a detailed block response.
