Transatlantic trade tensions have intensified following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of a 25-percent tariff on European imports. European countries have responded by warning that the EU will react \"firmly and immediately\" against what they deem as unjustified barriers.
The tariff plan, unveiled by Trump on Wednesday, targets various European goods, including automobiles and agricultural products. At a White House cabinet meeting, Trump asserted that the EU has \"taken advantage of\" the United States by restricting American cars and agricultural imports.
In retaliation, Olof Gill, spokesperson for the European Commission, stated on Thursday that American businesses have significantly benefited from investments in Europe. \"By creating a large and integrated single market, the European Union (EU) has facilitated trade, reduced costs for EU exporters, and harmonized standards and regulations across all our member states. As a result, U.S. investments in Europe are highly profitable,\" Gill emphasized.
The European Commission reiterated its stance on Wednesday, declaring that the EU will respond \"firmly and immediately\" to any unjust barriers to free and fair trade, especially when tariffs are used to challenge legal and non-discriminatory policies.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, speaking in Washington on Thursday, highlighted the shared values between Europe and the United States and cautioned against isolation. She reaffirmed the EU's readiness to counteract \"unjust barriers to free and fair trade\" decisively.
France and Spain aligned with the EU's position on retaliation, calling for unity to protect Europe's interests. French Economy Minister Eric Lombard, speaking after the G20 finance ministers' meeting in Cape Town, emphasized the necessity for the EU to respond in kind to the U.S. tariffs.
French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, in an interview with France Info, stressed the importance of a "firm and proportionate reaction." He stated, \"The EU must react in the firmest possible way, in the most immediate way, and I insist in the most proportionate way, because that's how it works.\"
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez echoed these sentiments at an event in Spain's Basque Region, asserting that the EU is prepared to defend its economic sovereignty against unjustified tariffs. He contrasted the EU's commitment to open trade and cooperation with Trump's promotion of "isolation."
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also voiced support on social media platform X, stating, \"The EU was not formed to screw anyone. Quite the opposite. It was formed to maintain peace, to build respect among our nations, to create free and fair trade, and to strengthen our transatlantic friendship.\"
Italian Minister of Enterprises Adolfo Urso expressed concerns over the escalating trade tensions, noting Italy's export-driven economy is "obviously worried." He called for unity within the West to avoid a trade war. However, Italian industrial leaders like Emanuele Orsini from Confindustria have called for a stronger response, criticizing Trump's policies for disrupting trade dynamics and threatening European businesses and jobs.
