Brussels is all for hefty tariffs, especially—though not exclusively—when introduced under the guise of climate policy. In this case, countries that raise opposition are usually ignored.
Yet top European Union officials have been left reeling after Donald Trump slapped all U.S. imports from the bloc with 20% tariffs. He described this as a “not full reciprocal” rate but “kind reciprocal,” saying the EU’s effective tariff on imports from the U.S. was 39%. Not that this has done much to steady nerves.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday morning described the tariffs as “a major blow,” adding that many bloc officials “feel let down by our oldest ally.” She added that “it is not too late to address concerns through negotiations,” while stressing Brussels is “prepared to respond” if talks fail.
In Sweden, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said ,“We don’t want growing trade barriers”—as if tariffs on imports into the EU and U.S. did not exist before this week—while French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou warned of “immense difficulty for Europe” ahead.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the tariffs were “fundamentally wrong,” adding:
This is an attack on a trade order that has created prosperity all over the globe, a trade order that is essentially the result of American efforts.
And as European stock markets slumped at the start of trading on Thursday, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni cleared her diary to plan a response to the “wrong” tariffs, while the Élysée announced President Emmanuel Macron would be holding meetings with affected sectors.
Brussels officials are bound to have been at least a little stung by the fact the UK was hit with far lower tariffs of 10%, which commentators have celebrated as proof “Brexit was the best decision Britain ever made.” The pro-Brexit Bruges Group also highlighted that the EU has imposed tariffs on American goods for years, adding:
Eurocrats haven’t become converts to free trade overnight—the crocodile tears are because their protectionist racket has finally hit a wall.
Trump didn’t start this. Brussels did.
The EU’s trade chief will speak to his American counterparts on Friday. Many negotiations are likely to take place over the coming weeks.
