The European Union (EU) is seeking to forge a new global trade map that excludes the United States, following the recent announcement of 30% tariffs on EU goods starting August 1. In response, EU President Ursula von der Leyen has pledged to continue negotiating with the US, but also emphasized the bloc’s plans to draw up countermeasures.
As tensions between the EU and the US escalate, European allies are turning to each other for support. Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto called Europe “very important” in providing global stability, while Canada is working to deepen its ties with Southeast Asia.
The EU is also building relationships with countries outside of North America, including India, South Africa, and those across South America and Asia. Officials have even floated the idea of creating a trading group that excludes the US and China.
Analysts believe that large economies could coordinate their retaliation against US tariffs, giving them more leverage. “I would start to look for coordination,” said Jacob Funk Kirkegaard, a senior fellow at Bruegel. The EU’s new strategy is a response to the US’s push to reorder the global trade system, which has left its allies feeling vulnerable.
With tensions between the EU and the US on the rise, it appears that Europe is seeking to establish itself as a major player in the global economy. As the bloc continues to strengthen its relationships with other countries, it may be leaving the US further behind in the process.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/13/world/europe/trump-tariffs-trade-europe-us.html