U.S. President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement of 30% tariffs on EU (EU) exports has sparked strong opposition from the entire group, with officials and industry leaders demanding a strong, joint response in continuing trade negotiations. The proposed tariffs will come into effect on August 1, targeting EU imports and are defended by Trump to correct the “far from the countdown” trade relations.
European Commission President Ursula von Leyen warned Saturday that tariffs would “undermine the basic supply chains across the Atlantic and harm businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic.”
She said while highlighting the EU’s continued commitment to a negotiated solution, she said the group “will take all necessary steps to protect EU interests, including adopting proportional countermeasures when needed.”
Xinhua News Agency reported that European lawmakers and state leaders expressed increasingly frustrated expressions, and many urged immediate retaliation steps.
Bernd Lange, chairman of the European Parliament’s International Trade Commission, said that after weeks of negotiations, the U.S. letters were “both rude and slap”.
He urged the EU to start retaliation measures as planned on Monday, noting that “the waiting time is over”.
European Council President Antonio Costa said tariffs will drive inflation, fuel uncertainty and stall growth. “The EU remains firm, unified and ready to protect our interests,” he said, urging progress toward a “fair deal” with Washington.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he had “strong opposition” to the U.S. action and said that if the conversation fails, the EU must use all tools, including anti-stubbornness, to speed up preparations of “reliable countermeasures.”
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson condemned the move as a “unilateral escalation” and said the EU is ready to make difficult countermeasures when necessary.
“Everyone has failed due to the escalation of the trade conflict and our consumers will pay the highest price,” he warned.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala criticized the negative impact of U.S. tariffs on transatlantic trade and called for “unity and determination” to protect the interests of the EU.
European industries alerted the dust, especially in sectors that were closely integrated with the U.S. market.
BDI, a major German industry lobby, called the U.S. action a “warning sign”, warning that it could undermine recovery and disrupt innovation across the Atlantic.
“As a means of exerting political pressure, tariffs can lead to higher costs, harm jobs and undermine international competitiveness in Europe and the United States,” said Wolfgang Niedermark, senior director of BDI.
Isabel Schnabel, a member of the European Central Bank’s board of directors, said tariffs could trigger medium-term inflation and supply chain shocks.
The automotive industry, which has been deeply integrated with the EU and the US, is already suffering.
Slovakia is one of Europe’s top car outbreaks, and it is reported that orders have dropped significantly in the upcoming third quarter. Economy Minister Denisa Sakova said it would be unfeasible to move production to the United States in the short term, stressing that the damage has begun.
The German Automobile Industry Association (VDA) said the manufacturer’s fees have climbed in billions of dollars and are climbing every day.
“It is regrettable that there is a threat of further escalation of the trade conflict,” VDA President Hildegard Mueller said.
“Our company costs are already billions of dollars and are growing every day,” she said, noting that suppliers are also significantly affected by import taxes.
Emanuele Orsini, president of Condedicuria, who represents manufacturing and service companies in major Italian associations, denounced the U.S. approach as “unpleasant”, while Paolo Mascarino, president of the Italian Federation of Food and Beverage Industry, said the tariffs “over any threshold for tolerance” and would trigger a massive decline in results.
Dan O’Brien, chief economist at the Institute for International and European Affairs, said the U.S. move was “provocative” and significantly increased the risk of a wider economic confrontation between the two economies.
