The reactions of EU leaders have been harsh after President Donald Trump’s announcement of the U.S. tariffs vis-á-vis other countries. The European Union’s leading voices have been critical of the decision and calling for action to stop the escalation of the trade war.
Trump argued for his policies by saying Europe already have high tariffs on foreign imports and exports, and America just wants to match their tariffs in the name of fairness.
With the biggest EU economies talking about revenge and retaliation, it is hard to imagine a de-escalation of the situation in the near future. Amid the hurt and angry reactions from EU leaders and European heads of states, the question is—doesn’t the EU use tariffs as well?
The European Commission’s own webpage lists 64 cases under ‘trade defence investigations’—a nicer word for what is essentially tariffs on foreign imports. Candles from China, sweet corn from Thailand, or tubes and pipe fittings from the South Korea are only some of the items subject to tariffs from the EU.
Already in 2018, during his first term, President Trump pointed out the inequalities in trade between the U.S. and the European Union. American cars to the EU faced 10% duties while European cars imported to the United States only had to pay 2.5%.
EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, felt that the EU has been “let down by our oldest ally” following the introduction of the tariffs. Evidently, the Americans also felt let down by Europe.
