EU said it will reply ‘firmly and immediately’ to ‘unjustified’ trade barriers, signaling it’s ready to retaliate against levies

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.

  • marcos@lemmy.worldEnglish
    315·
    5 days ago

    That’s a really bad understanding of how economies work. On all levels.

    That’s the kind of the way Trump thinks.

    • Womble@lemmy.worldEnglish
      71·
      5 days ago

      So do you think the EU, Canada, Mexico and China all dont understand how economies work either? As they all immediately said they would respond to tariffs with tariffs on American goods.

      • marcos@lemmy.worldEnglish
        15·
        5 days ago

        First, “they all” didn’t so it. Some of them did.

        Second, you are the one claiming the motivation for that action. And you are wrong, their motivation isn’t to “keep their business competitive despite the US tariffs”… unless of course they also don’t know what they are doing. That’s because the US tariffs doesn’t change the competitiveness of products on their territory, and their tariffs don’t change the competitiveness of products on the US territory…

        What should be obvious, because the tariffs aren’t applied there.

        • Womble@lemmy.worldEnglish
          41·
          5 days ago

          Please try to read usernames, I didnt say anything about motivations.

          And all of them threatened retaliatory tariffs immediately after trump anounced his:

          Obviously most of those havent been implemented yet as THe USA hasnt implemented it’s tariffs. But the more general point about imposing retaliatory tariffs is sound, they make the other countries exports less attractive. If the US does that to other countries they are going to want to do it back to the US.