While Donald Trump has imposed customs duties on Canada, Mexico and China, the European Union is concerned about being the next on the list.
After US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that imports to the European Union were imported “Certainly in progress”the block reacted with unit and conviction.
Speaking before an informal meeting on security issues, European leaders seemed to agree that they would fight against American customs duties if they were to be set up.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the European Union “can react to pricing policies by pricing policies.” “We have to do it and we will, but the perspective and the objective should be to proceed so that things are summed up in cooperation”added the leader of the greatest economy in Europe.
The EU seeks to become more independent, both economic and military, while Mr. Trump’s national interests are strengthened and war in Ukraine limits Russia’s dependence on gas.
“We have to do everything to avoid this totally useless and stupid tariff war”said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, adding that “We cannot lose common sense, we cannot lose conscience from our interests. At the same time, we cannot lose our self -respect and our confidence in Europe. It is not easy, But we will see. “
Danish Prime Minister puts Frederiksen, said she “did not support the allies who want to fight”but that Denmark would cooperate and respond to American customs duties.
“One thing is clear: the EU must act as a single entity”said Prime Minister Micheál Martin said, adding that trade relations between the EU and the United States were the most important in the world and that “Inflation would harm citizens.”
The head of the European Union foreign policy Kaja Kallas said that there would be “No winner” in a trade war with the United States. She stressed that customs duties would have an impact on employment and prices, adding that China would be “The only one laughing on the side.”
Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda said that it would be possible to use military and energy funding in the United States, which could be “interesting” to alleviate customs duties.
Trump described as“atrocity” The 300 billion euros deficit of the European Union with the United States. Sunday, he also mentioned the possibility of import taxes for the United Kingdom, but said things “could be set” With British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Canada and Mexico have declared retaliatory customs duties on American products in response to American customs duties imposed on Saturday.
Trump has declared the state of economic emergency in the United States in order to impose customs duties of 10 % on all imports from China and 25 % on imports from Mexico and Canada.
Mr. Starmer will also participate in the meeting on Monday because he seeks to “reset” relations with the EU. He will be the first British Prime Minister to meet European leaders from Brexit.
It is the first meeting exclusively devoted to defense, at a time when the EU seeks to become more independent of the United States and to defend itself against potential attackers such as Russia. The summit will focus on cooperation between the EU and the United States, military spending and the strengthening of European defense industry.
According to the European Commission, the EU must invest 500 billion euros in the defense during the next decade, while the Union 2021-2027 budget only provides for 8 billion euros for this sector.