EU leaders threaten to hit back if Trump prompts trade war
1. "If we are attacked in terms of trade, Europe — as a true power — will have to stand up for itself," says Macron
BRUSSELS: European Union (EU) leaders warned on Monday that a trade war with the United States would have no winners, vowing to retaliate if President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on the bloc.
French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that the EU must assert its strength should Trump follow through on his threats.
"If we are attacked in terms of trade, Europe—as a true power—will have to stand up for itself," Macron stated.
The EU's 27 leaders gathered in Brussels alongside Britain's prime minister and NATO's chief to discuss strengthening European defenses in response to Russian aggression. However, the meeting was overshadowed by Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China—along with his warning that the EU could be next.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, urged for restraint, calling a potential trade war "totally unnecessary and stupid."
Trump has long accused the EU of treating the U.S. "very, very unfairly" in trade relations. Following his recent tariff measures against North American neighbors and China, he stated on Sunday that he "definitely" planned to target the EU next.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz cautioned that such a move would be damaging for both sides. "A trade dispute would be bad for the U.S., bad for Europe," he said, emphasizing the need for transatlantic "cooperation."
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas echoed this sentiment, warning that trade wars benefit no one. "We need America, and America needs us as well," she said.
On Sunday, the European Commission vowed to respond "firmly" if Trump went after the EU, condemning his tariff measures on Canada, Mexico, and China.
"Tariffs create unnecessary economic disruption and drive inflation. They are hurtful to all sides," a commission spokesperson said.
Brussels had initially sought to avoid a trade conflict through negotiations. However, European Council President Antonio Costa later held a late-night call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, reaffirming EU-Canada trade ties.
"Both leaders underscored the importance of the EU-Canada bilateral relationship and confirmed their determination to continue working together," an EU official stated.
Since Trump’s re-election in November, Brussels has been diversifying its trade partnerships, recently strengthening ties with Mexico and resuming free trade talks with Malaysia.
During his first term in 2018, Trump had already imposed tariffs on European steel and aluminum, prompting the EU to retaliate with its own countermeasures.
Now, as tensions escalate once more, the EU is preparing to respond decisively.
