Trade war which Donald Trump initiated with his tariffs a few days ago, also against the EU, by all means avoid. Delegations, such as the EU Parliament, are these days On the way to Washington, to find the conversation with the US decisions. From the Leyen now goes so far as to offer the United States’ lifting all tariffs to industrial goods and cars. “Miling zero tariffs” the head of the commission calls the offer that definitely stays on the table. Europe, she emphasizes, is “always to have good business”.
But at the same time you demonstrate Cleaning and determination. If Washington does not give in, you will gradually initiate countermeasures, the whole package has already been Done “in the pocket”.
Am 15. April If you want to open a month later should Other, even more painful tariffs and follow penalty payments. Then it should above all the Agriculture of the agricultural -giant USA meet. After all, there are products such as beef or soy for cattle breeding.
Worries about champagne
But as so often in the EU, it is Agency of the member states brittle. Hours before the first lists are to be finished with tariffs, it will continue to be filed between the states.
There are violent tug of war on these first measures. As long as known, these are directed against steel and aluminum from the USA, on the other hand against US prestige products such as Bourbon Whiskey or Harley Davidson motorcycles.
For the time being, only the steel and aluminum tariffs are undisputedat the same height as that of the United States: 25 percent. The measures against Harley, on the other hand, cause Italy malaiseyou export motorcycles of the traditional brands yourself Ducati and Moto Guzzi to the USA. Against the Whiskey-Zölle, in turn, has concerns France. Finally Trump threatened to respond in response Alcoholic beverages from Europe with absurd high tariffs to prove up to 200 percent. That would above all the French Champagne producers and their Italian Prosecco colleagues meet. The French EU Commissioner Stéphane Séjourné – Although actually responsible for industry – therefore even publicly urges the If possible, not to impose whiskey tariffs.
At the same time Above all, France urges To use heavier economic weapons in this trade conflict as quickly as possible, for example Against the US digital giants such as Twitter, Facebook or the payment provider PayPal.
“Europeans should pay”
At least with Trump’s most important digital tsar, Elon Musk, this threat seems to work. Musk now thinks loudly over Duty-free agreement after. The US President Even on the other hand, there is at least in front of the press Undetroof hard – and above all deaf for compromisesas EU negotiators report. Trump would exclusively with Peter Navarrohis closest advisor in trade questions, voting-and the two would not be spoken for EU representatives. In this conflict over tariffs, all other, down from US Minister of Trade Lutnick, are largely outside. Delegations from Europe would therefore handled with standing sets. There is currently not much to notice of real willingness to talk in Washington. And after a willingness to talk, Trump’s recent public comments do not listen to themselves: “They come to the table. They want to talk, but there are no conversations if they don’t pay a lot of money every year. “