The European Union has pushed back against US President Donald Trump’s latest proposal to impose a 50% tariff on all EU goods, warning that trade between the two should be built on “respect, not threats.” The rebuke comes after Trump suggested that negotiations with Brussels were “going nowhere” and proposed a blanket duty on all European goods entering the US starting June 1.
However, Trump announced on Sunday that he would push back the tariff’s effective date to July 9, following a call from EU President Ursula Von Der Leyen. The move is part of a broader deterioration in relations between the two global powers, marked by months of distrust and economic sparring.
The EU, which exports over $600 billion worth of goods to the US last year, has long been one of Washington’s top commercial partners. Trump’s latest proposal follows his April announcement of a 39% tariff on European goods, an idea he later walked back before adopting an even tougher stance.
Economic adviser Stephen Moore said Trump was expressing frustration with the EU, calling the proposed tariffs a “shot at the bow.” EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič responded by emphasizing the need for mutual respect in trade negotiations, and said that the bloc remains committed to securing a deal that works for both sides.
The tension between the US and EU reflects a return to combative rhetoric and action reminiscent of Trump’s first administration. The US has been critical of the EU’s defense spending and military aid to Ukraine, with Vice President J.D. Vance expressing concerns about Europe’s “retreat from some of its most fundamental values.”
As the trade war threat looms, other allies are caught in the crossfire. Britain, which recently signed a trade deal with Europe and an economic pact with the US, must navigate the delicate balance between its relationship with Washington and its largest trading partner in Brussels.
With tensions rising across the Atlantic, the EU is unlikely to take US tariffs lying down without making moves of its own.
Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/world/europe/trumps-tariff-threat-risks-trade-war-europe-years-making-rcna208873