The European Union received yet another attack from the US President on Wednesday 26 February, with the announcement of a flat tariff of 25% on all European products (see EUROPE 13588/8). The measure has not yet been implemented, but Donald Trump says it will be soon. This would be very bad news for the European Union, which is why it is still seeking to negotiate with its partner on the other side of the Atlantic, before imposing countermeasures.
Rather than having been created to harm the United States, as Mr Trump seems to be saying, “EU has been a boon for the United States”, insisted Commission Trade spokesman Olof Gill. He recalled that the EU was the largest common market in the world, having largely benefited US investors.
In Washington, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, made a similar speech at Johns Hopkins University: "Pulling ourselves up together rather than the opposite. We are not out to screw anyone. And this win-win attitude will always be our preferred approach. Of course, at the same time, we are very ready for anything".
On several occasions in recent weeks, EU Member States have called for a cool head, while supporting the imposition of proportionate but firm measures in response to the US tariffs. The French, Italian and Spanish industry ministers reiterated this in Paris on Thursday 27 February. “I call on us to keep our cool, to be measured and to prepare for all eventualities should the United States carry out Donald Trump’s threats”, said the French Minister for Industry and Energy, Marc Ferracci.
For his Italian counterpart, Adolfo Urso, the trade war must be avoided all the more because Italy enjoys a trade surplus with Washington. “This is not the time to divide the West, but rather to unite the West, because the challenges are common to all the countries of the world. Consequently, we believe that the response must be a common one”, insisted the Italian minister.
The three ministers jointly called for EU unity above all else. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)