Summary
Donald Trump has announced plans to impose 25% tariffs on the European Union, claiming the bloc was “formed to screw the United States.”
While details are pending, he suggested the levies would target cars and other imports. The EU, a major U.S. trading partner, has vowed immediate retaliation, with potential tariffs impacting $29.3 billion in exports.
French President Emmanuel Macron had attempted to dissuade Trump, urging focus on China instead.
Critics, including economists and conservative media, warn the tariffs could harm the U.S. economy.
The EU has an official mechanism to combat economic pressure like this that includes suspension of all intellectual property from the country imposing the tarrifs.
Fucking do it then, cunt!
Yes, because the initial tarriff talks went over so well…
It did for Mexico and Canada.
They agreed to nothing new, and the terrifs vanished.
It must be like trying to negotiate with a toddler.
Putin’s puppet
Capitalism-lover hates competition. Interesting.
Based on an overwhelming amount of economic studies of tariffs in the last 100 years, the EU should ignore it. Why enact tariffs on American goods and make life more expensive for Europeans? Studies show EU businesses will raise prices accordingly. The citizens will be worse off.
However, based on our knowledge of how politicians act, they’ll take the bait and retaliate, thus making things more expensive for EU citizens.
“This again? See you next month, Don.”
He’s like clockwork, but he’s more of a fake Rolex.
Not an untrue statement. The EU was formed to make them more financially competitive and stop the endless internal warfare.
Are you kidding? The major achievement of the pact has been to stop wars among its members, something that the US highly appreciated after the WW. All presidents up to Trump have been in strong favour of the EU, and EU expansion. Obama campaigned against Brexit. Bush junior strongly pushed for expansion into Eastern Europe. They all realised how much they benefited from having strong allies. Incredible how quickly that lesson has been forgotten.
Plot twist, it wasn’t forgotten. The person who wants the EU destroyed the most is probably Putin… Followed 2nd by huge corporations/monopolies.
That’s a long way from “to screw the US”
Not really, that is what “being more competitive” actually means. Using leverage to secure the best deal possible.
The piece of shit saying that was formed to screw the US
Slap 100% tariffs on the bloc of united states, as a courtesy.
Screw U orange shit4brains. You get what you give loser
Time for Ukraine to join the EU quickly. Tariff his precious minerals.
Orange fuckwit.
I still hope Zelenskyy is coming here Friday to announce that they decided to take the deal from Germany, and Zelenskyy ends the press conference with a double bird for Trump. It won’t happen but man I would love Zelenskyy even more if he did.
He’s not completely wrong. One of the benefits EU provides is better bargaining power for its members against countries like the US.
Sanctions or tariffs on any individual EU country would likely lead to collective response.
Almost like a certain military alliance this asshole wants out of. Hmmm…
The EU was formed to screw the US… THE EU WAS FORMED TO SCREW THE US?! Bruh dude is possibly channeling Hitler and Stalin simultaneously. That’s the only thing that makes sense. Or he’s terminally dumb. One of the two.
Definitely channeling Putin.
Trump is kinda right. Charles De Gaulle wanted a united Europe to prevent Anglo-American influence. Aside from his Anglophobia, he vetoed UK joining then EEC because he thought UK is a Trojan horse for American influence into Europe. He also thought that the British are reluctant Europeans anyhow, so why let them in?
Fast forward 60 years later, and De Gaulle was found right. US companies tried to lobby the EU through UK. The Brits voted for Brexit, and the US finally became an unreliable ally.
For so much of the French being chauvinistic in a cringey way, they are right not to commit to Anglo influence or Atlanticism, presciently. The French still likes to assert their own global influence but in multilateral way with other countries. Macron and De Gaulle are correct for looking for strategic autonomy.
Edit: I also want to add, that the Brussels effect forces other countries to adopt higher standards and regulations if they want to trade with the EU. Obviously, many right wing Americans such as Trump don’t like this.
Brussels effects haters be like: “I really fucking hate USB type-C cables being on every device where it makes sense! I want to bo back to expensive and crappy proprietary cables only the original manufacturer is allowed to make!”
That, nukes, NATO… It may have been rank anglophobia, but man, did history prove him right…
