Trump's anger first affected Mexico and Canada. These 2 countries have been talking to the White home for over a month, rejecting new, advanced duties. However, they carry out very different strategies. Ottawa took a more confrontational approach — an immediate trade retaliation, resulting in a fast revenge of the White House. Mexico is trying to stay low and buy time.
"Europe and Canada do not respect Donald Trump"
Other countries are observing and drawing conclusions on how much the global economy is changing as Trump's trade wars continue.
— There is simply a debate going on: is it better to grovel and kiss the ring, or is it better to defy a tyrant?," said William Reinsch, erstwhile US Undersecretary for Trade, presently working at the Think Tank Centre for strategical and global Studies.
— Both solutions work and neglect depending on the circumstances. So it is hard to tell which tactics are better,” he added.
A high-ranking authoritative of the European Union, who was granted anonymity, told journalists on Wednesday 12 March that the EU is constantly talking to another planet leaders about American customs and comparing conclusions. However, the authoritative added that the EU is not yet coordinating its consequence with another countries.
On the same day, the European Union announced a two-stage trade retaliation plan in consequence to duties on steel and aluminium. The tariffs will cover US imports to Europe of around 28 billion dollars (about PLN 107 billion, 660 million counting at the current exchange rate) and will apply from 1 April.
Canada likewise reacted to the 25% work on its exports which the Trump administration imposed at the beginning of that period before withdrawing a crucial proportion of them. Ottawa's movement triggered an aggressive reaction from the White House.
On fact Social Trump, the EU stated "She put on a nasty 50-percent whisky fare.‘, although the EU tariff for American bourbon does not enter into force until next month.
— If this tariff is not lifted immediately, the United States will shortly impose 200-percent. a tariff for all wines, champagne and alcoholic products originating in France and another EU countries, wrote Trump.
The president reacted equally sharply to Canada's retaliation, in peculiar to an increase in fees imposed by the Canadian state of Ontario for electricity exports to the USA. Trump threatened to immediately double the duties on steel and aluminum imposed on Canada, resulting in a fierce exchange between the White home and Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford before both sides withdrew from their actions.
However, officials from the White home proceed to complain about the reactions of both Canada and Europe.
— All of this showed that Europe and Canada do not respect Donald Trump and do not respect America's ability to build a steel and aluminium manufacture that is crucial to national security," said Trade Secretary Howard Lutnick at Bloomberg TV.
Unlike Canada, Mexico's president Claudia Sheinbaum was much little confrontational in her calls for Trump on customs. Mexico has inactive not determined how it will take reprisal action over Trump's first circular of duties which will have a crucial impact on the Mexican economy.
Sheinbaum confirmed at a press conference on Wednesday 12 March that Mexico would abstain from any retaliatory action until April.
Carlos Santiago/ Eyepix Group, photograph by Eyepix/NurPhoto, photograph by Eyepix / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP / AFPMexico president Claudia Sheinbaum
— They're trying to buy any time to negotiate. They believe that the more aggressive positions of the European Union and Canada, which immediately respond with countervailing duties, are counterproductive," said Arturo Sarukhan, erstwhile Mexican ambassador to the United States.
‘All options on the table’
China's reaction to Trump's duties was besides peculiarly restrained. The Chinese government began retaliating against Trump's 10% work on its exports to the United States. However, China's reaction was not immediate. The country did not take any retaliation against the latest Trump duties on steel and aluminium.
US-China relations experts propose that Beijing is seeking an agreement that could reduce trade restrictions to 2020. It was then that Beijing and Washington made the deal during Trump's first term.
Most affected countries Trump fares for aluminium and steel decided to follow the way of Mexico and China. Australia, Japan, Britain and Brazil abstained from retaliating and stated that they are either seeking exemption from customs or negotiating with the White House.
United Kingdom "keep all options on the table," said fresh Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday 12 March, but did not respond to duties on steel and aluminum. Instead, Starmer sends British Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds to Washington this week.
— We focus on a pragmatic approach and rapidly negociate a broader economical agreement with the US to destruct additional duties and benefit British companies and our economy," Reynolds said shortly after Trump's tariffs entered into force.
Australian Ambassador to the U.S. Kevin Rudd confirmed that his country is observing fresh U.S. talks with Canada and Mexico, as well as China. On Wednesday, he said to the Australian radio and tv station that he sees a negotiating field, due to the fact that "looking at the imposition and abolition of duties by Washington, there are changes all day."
A planet in the face of Trump's aggression
Sarukhan said that with the entry into force of more tariffs, leaders like Sheinbaum would be under force to respond more decisively and it would be increasingly hard for them to keep their cool.
Meanwhile, Canada and the EU are trying to communicate with Washington, even if they promise their citizens that they will powerfully argue Trump's aggression.
— There is inactive time for the U.S. to solve this issue without having to passing through unnecessary difficulties said EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic on Friday 14 March.
Lutnick's gathering with Canadian officials on Thursday 13 March did not bring any immediate results, but signaled a change of tone. Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford told journalists that he managed to “low down” the temperature in relations between countries and praised Lutnick as a “smart negotiator”. Ford added that officials would meet again next week.
Finally, Trump introduced himself primarily as a contract maker. There is, therefore, inactive hope in abroad countries that there is simply a way out of escalating trade conflicts.
However, as the EU authoritative said, "the start of negotiations on the elimination of duties is not very productive".
— You put a stinky fish on the table, and then you start negotiating to remove that stinky fish. Then you say, “Oh, we have a large score: there is no stinky fish on the table,” said the EU official, referring to Trump's customs policy.
