The European Union has issued a declaration aimed squarely at former President Donald Trump, stating, “We stand ready to defend our interests.”
The EU’s statement came in response to a threat made by Trump last Friday, in which he warned the collective of European nations of a possible imposition of new tariffs, potentially as high as 50%.
EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic publicly stated that the EU is not retreating from negotiations, asserting, “@EU_Commission remains ready to work in good faith.” He urged Trump to soften his approach, citing the unmatched nature of EU-US trade and the necessity for it to be guided by mutual respect and not threats.
Trump maintains that the EU has shown no clear interest in negotiation, alleging that its primary intent has always been to exploit the United States financially. Past trade discussions with EU leaders, according to Trump, have yielded no tangible results. Hence, he has recommended a straight 50% tariff on the European Union, set to commence on June 1, 2025.
No formal order to impose such tariffs on the EU has been issued. The evidence suggests that one of the obstacles to a trade agreement between the US and the EU is the inherent difficulty in getting a unanimous agreement from 27 nations on trade practices. The Wall Street Journal reports that US negotiators have expressed frustration at the EU’s inability to address key issues, ranging from streaming service fees to automotive industry regulations.
An unnamed diplomat from one of the member nations stated that it is challenging to discern when Trump is genuinely prepared to act or merely posturing to leverage a deal. The diplomat was quoted as saying, “You can’t base policy off a Truth Social post.”