Business owners and experts from multiple European countries have said that the United States’ persistent tariff threats are harming the global economy, and expressed concern that the unpredictability of U.S. tariff policies could further worsen a global economic downturn.

Christian Kullmann, CEO of German chemicals maker Evonik, said in an interview recently that for the global economy, the U.S. government’s trade policies are disastrous, as they are causing customers around the world to hold back on orders and investment.

Uncertainty and concerns over the U.S. government’s next moves are spreading globally, while the ongoing tariff threats continue to undermine global economic growth, Kullmann said.

Noting the ongoing tariff negotiations between European Union and the United States, Kullmann said even if a tariff agreement can be reached, long-term uncertainty will remain due to the unpredictable and erratic nature of U.S. policy.

Kullmann called on European business and political leaders to take decisive action, adding that Europe’s response to “America First” must be “Business First.”

Facing increasingly fierce global competition, Europe needs to strengthen its economic power and global competitiveness, rather than resorting to trade protectionism, Kullmann added.

In Britain, experts have stressed the role of U.S. tariffs in the weakening job market, with unemployment rising and recruitment stagnating.

Data released by the Office for National Statistics on Thursday revealed that the country’s unemployment rate for people aged 16 and over stood at 4.7 percent during the March-May period of 2025. This marks a notable increase both year on year and quarter on quarter, pushing the rate to its highest level in nearly four years.

“The government’s tax rises, a higher minimum wage and the U.S. trade war are hitting the jobs market,” the Financial Times reported.

Despite the UK-U.S. trade agreement, experts believe the ongoing threat of U.S. tariffs is contributing to the negative data and will continue to influence Britain’s job market and economy in the long term.

David Bailey, professor of business economics at the University of Birmingham, noted that U.S. tariffs are impacting Britain’s export-driven sectors and, in turn, the job market.

“Even though Britain has got this deal with Trump on tariffs, the tariffs are still going up from 2.5 percent to 10 percent. It may not be 25 percent, but it’s still going to affect exports from Britain and therefore hit economic growth,” Bailey said.

In Portugal, winemakers face hardship as U.S. tariffs and export uncertainty weigh on industry.

Referring to the U.S. tariffs, Joao Matos, a board member of the Favaios Cooperative Winery – one of Portugal’s most emblematic producers of sweet fortified wines – said that “everything has been put on hold.”

Earlier this year, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 10 percent universal tariff on imports from most countries, as well as the EU, and signaled plans in early July to raise tariffs on EU goods to 30 percent.

“Grapes, like people, aren’t afraid of heat. They only fear losing direction,” he said, his eyes fixed on a wayward vine. “Once they stray, they stop growing properly.”

The Favaios Cooperative exports to 23 countries, with the United States as its most important and fastest-growing market. Last year alone, shipments to the U.S. brought in around $290,712, about 10 percent of the cooperative’s total exports.

Favaios represents just one corner of a broader crisis. According to Rui Paredes, president of the Douro Winegrowers’ Association, higher tariffs led to immediate order suspensions, and outright cancellations.

“The U.S. imports top-tier, high-value wines. Now those orders are gone, and there’s no backup market. These bottles are stuck here with nowhere to go,” Paredes said.