Photo by Arno Senoner on Unsplash
MEPs have attacked President Trump’s 20 percent tariffs on goods from the EU entering the U.S.
The announcement was made by Donald Trump on Wednesday.
Reaction from MEPs was swift with Bernd Lange (S&D, DE), Chairman of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee, saying, “While President Trump might call today Liberation Day, from an ordinary citizen’s point of view this is Inflation Day.
“These unjustified, illegal and disproportionate measures can only lead to further tariff escalation and a downward economic spiral for the US and the world as a whole. Because of this decision, US consumers will be forced to carry the heaviest burden in a trade war. These tariffs will only make processes and manufacturing more inefficient. They have prompted damaging uncertainty in the investment climate. Stock markets could hardly be clearer in their reactions.”
The member added, “The EU will respond. We will do so through legal, legitimate, proportionate and decisive measures. As the EU we will consider which of the tools at our disposal are best suited for our response. We are not backing down. We will defend our sovereignty and we will not change legislation that we have shaped democratically and in the interest of EU citizens, even if this displeases some US billionaires. The countries that have been targeted by these measures must respond with a united front and send a clear message to the US to end this tariff madness.”
“I do hope this administration is genuinely interested in engaging with the EU, but I am not confident. I hope that our arguments and the firmness of our response will provide sufficient incentives to bring the US to the negotiating table. The EU’s door will always remain open to finding a solution.”
Further criticism came from Iatxe García Pérez, S&D Group leader, who said: “We deeply regret Trump’s announcement of new tariffs on EU products. Millions of jobs and citizens’ purchasing power are at risk because of Trump’s reckless tariffs.”
“The EU’s €26 billion response to Trump’s tariffs, announced two weeks ago, is a strong step, but others should follow. Trump is fuelling a trade war that will not bring liberation; on the contrary, it will bring disaster for American workers and the economy. Our citizens and businesses shouldn’t worry, as we won’t follow him down that road.
“Our strength lies in being the world’s largest trading bloc, and we should be ready to use our full power, including the anti-coercion instrument, not only on products but also services. Let’s not forget that, above all, the United States is our largest trade partner, and we Socialists want a negotiated solution. But, what Trump can’t anticipate is that the EU won’t respond to his attacks. Our citizens and their jobs come first, and that’s why the EU should respond with determination, speed, proportionality, and unity.”
More comment came from Brando Benifei, S&D coordinator in the international trade committee and chair of the European Parliament’s delegation to the US.
He stated: “We need broad countermeasures that hit where it really hurts not just on goods, but also targeting services, such as big tech firms, as well as considering the possible retaliation on intellectual property rights or excluding US companies from public procurement contracts to maximise pressure and bring this trade war to an end.”
