EU Responds to ‘Unlawful’ Trump Tariffs

The European Commission said on Monday it would react strongly to United States President Donald Trump’s threat of imposing 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum, calling such tariffs “unlawful” and “counterproductive.”

The tariffs would massively impact Canada and Mexico, the biggest exporters of these materials to the U.S., as well as China and Europe.

The imposition of tariffs would be unlawful and economically counterproductive, especially given the deeply integrated production chains the EU and U.S. established through trans-Atlantic trade and investment. … By imposing tariffs, the U.S. would be taxing its own citizens, raising costs for business, and fueling inflation. Moreover, tariffs heighten economic uncertainty and disrupt the efficiency and integration of global markets.
—European Commission

“The time has come,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told the European Commission in response to the news. “We should not hesitate when defending our interests.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the EU can act “within an hour” if Trump imposes the tariffs.

Turn to China? The European Commission has in recent weeks repeatedly called for stronger trade ties with China in response to the threat of Trump’s tariffs.

Last week, its president, Ursula von der Leyen, said Europe needs to “find agreements” with China in an “era of hyper-competitive and hyper-transactional geopolitics.” Last month, she said engagement with countries like China is an “economic necessity” for the EU.

Mart of nations: We expect Europe to continue to look to China and other nations to form a trade alliance that opposes U.S. financial world dominance and ultimately destroys it. The Bible calls this alliance the “mart of nations.”

To learn more, read “Preparing to Storm America’s Castle.”