The European Union warns that it will respond "firmly and immediately" to Trump's tariffs

BrusselsNew warning from Brussels to Donald Trump. Following the decision of the American president apply reciprocal tariffs, the European Commission has warned in a statement issued this Friday morning that it "will react firmly and immediately to any unjustified barrier to fair and free trade." In addition, although the letter maintains a constructive tone with the United States, the community executive of Ursula von der Leyen attacks the new protectionist movement of the Republican leader and warns that it goes in the "opposite direction." "The European Union remains committed to global, open and predictable trade that benefits all partners," insists the European Commission.

In this sense, Brussels defends that the community bloc "maintains one of the lowest tariff levels in the world" and "sees no justification for increasing US import rates." Trump, however, even counts VAT as one of the "unfair and discriminatory" taxes of the European Union against American exporters, even though it is a tax that falls on the consumer and affects all products equally.

It should be remembered, however, that the US tariffs have not yet been set and will not come into effect immediately. In fact, the US president does not hide that he intends to use them as a weapon of diplomatic pressure and assured this Thursday from the Oval Office that he would be "happy" to negotiate with other countries a reduction in the surcharges if they do the same. For this reason, the European Commission assures that it is one of the "most open" commercial regions and that "more than 70% of imports enter without any type of tariff."

The European Commission's warning comes after it also threatened a "firm" reaction in the 25% tariffs of the United States on imported steel and aluminum. In fact, the European Union's trade ministers met last Tuesday to discuss this issue and the European club is already studying a response. In any case, Von der Leyen has once again warned Trump of the consequences that a tariff war between the two powers could bring. "With tariffs, the United States is taxing its own citizens, increasing costs for businesses, stifling growth and fuelling inflation," the German conservative warned at the Munich Conference held this Friday.

Brussels keeps its arm outstretched in Washington

Despite constant warnings, the European Commission has not yet made a decision on Trump's tariffs and, in fact, is keeping its hand outstretched to the White House. In the statement issued this Friday, for example, Brussels once again vindicates the historic commercial relationship between the European Union and the United States, which is now "weakened" by the new Republican administration, and is committed to maintaining ties between the two powers. "The EU has worked with trading partners such as the US to reduce tariffs for decades," insists the community executive.

The trade war between the White House and the European Commission is intensifying just after Von der Leyen and the American vice president, JD Vance, held a meeting in Paris this past Tuesday. At the moment, it does not seem that the meeting has had much effect.

Brussels also confirmed on Friday that the President of the European Commission will meet next Monday with another of Trump's strongmen, Keith Kellogg, who is the White House's special envoy to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.