The storm of Donald Trump’s new 20% tariffs announced on Liberation Day is engulfing Europe. A perfect storm that, just a few hours before the tycoon revealed his cards, no one felt “the need for,” as retorted by the European Commission.
President Ursula von der Leyen has chosen not to respond immediately to the bombardment from across the Atlantic: she will do so only at first light, from Samarkand, to take the time to define the final details with the leaders of the Twenty-Seven and calibrate the response to the millimeter.
However, a first reaction came before Washington’s slap: an appeal to unity launched by the ECB’s number one, Christine Lagarde, urging the EU to “stand tall” and make itself “heard.” Shortly after, a warning also came from von der Leyen’s EPP leader, fellow countryman Manfred Weber, who stated that Trump attacks fair trade “out of fear,” but will find a “united Europe ready to defend its interests and open to fair and firm talks.”
This message also resonates in Italy, with Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani calling for a “pragmatic approach, based on dialogue” without “leaving the Italian productive system defenseless.” The wait for the axe of the American president ended shortly after 10 pm in the European institutions. For Europe, labeled “pathetic” and accused by the White House tenant of “robbing the US for years,” the surcharges will reach 20%, compared to the 10% applied to the UK. Now it is necessary to “maintain clarity to explore all possible avenues to push the United States to the negotiating table, but also show determination,” emphasized the President of the European Parliament’s delegation for US relations, Brando Benifei, relaunching the proposal already on the EU executive’s table to target Big Tech as a retaliatory measure.
The European challenge, according to Confindustria’s president, Emanuele Orsini, is to remain united and “maintain and increase the presence of industry and workers in Europe.” The EU’s response – to be implemented by the end of the month – will be in two phases, rapid but measured. Brussels will reiterate what von der Leyen has already explained several times in recent weeks: tariffs harm everyone, are unjustified, and undermine solid commercial relationships, such as transatlantic ones. At the same time, Europe will not close the door to dialogue: EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic has never stopped contacts with Washington, where he may return in the coming days, after meeting Tajani in Brussels in the next few hours to define a common response. The commercial issue is getting more complicated.
The Commission, as learned, is preparing a response that is balanced among the member states, trying to balance the collateral effects that will result from the counter-tariffs on American products and services. The plan, as anticipated by the French government, is for the response to occur in two phases. First, the counter-tariffs on aluminum and steel will be activated. The suspension, expiring on April 13, will not be extended. Then, by the end of April, Brussels should implement its response to the tariffs related to the so-called “American Liberation Day.”
In this sense, the Ue Trade Council meeting on Monday in Luxembourg could be crucial. The cracks among the 27 on the intensity of the response could emerge in all their gravity. European unity in response to Washington is a key element for von der Leyen. This is why the President of the Commission, ahead of Trump’s announcement, intensified her contacts with European leaders, including Giorgia Meloni. The goal is to meet the demands coming from the capitals, trying not to displease anyone. Or rather, to displease everyone to the same extent. In this sense, the Commission will likely accompany the counter-tariffs with a plan to provide short-term support to the most affected economic sectors. Starting with the agri-food sectors. Von der Leyen, in any case, can count on the support of the pro-European parties and the vast majority of governments, all convinced, or resigned, to a response that is “appropriate.”
The official EU response will be released while the EU leaders are heading to Uzbekistan for the summit with the Central Asian States. Diversifying partners is now an essential point for Europe.
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