Shortly after Trump’s re-election in November 2024, MEPs already debated what this would mean for EU-US relations.
In the week Trump was inaugurated as US president, leading MEPs called for continued transatlantic cooperation: “The European Parliament stands ready to do its part in strengthening the transatlantic bond. We shall continue working closely with our US friends in Congress, the new US administration as well as governors and state legislators to further strengthen the US-EU partnership.”
On 12 February MEPs debated tariff threats from the Trump administration with representatives from the Council and the European Commission.
Adam Szłapka, Polish Minister for European Affairs, said: “We continue to believe that open rules-based and fair international trade is primarily a force for good. By opening new markets trade enhances economies of scale, contributes to productivity and innovation and supports jobs.”
Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, and European Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency, said: “Tariffs are taxes, bad for businesses, worse for consumers. And by imposing tariffs, the US will be taxing its own citizens, raising costs for its own business and fuelling inflation.”
Bernd Lange, chair of Parliament’s international trade committee and standing rapporteur for the US, referred to possible EU countertariffs: “Isaac Newton knew back in the day that once you have an action, you always have a reaction.”
Sophie Wilmès, vice-chair of the Parliament’s delegation for relations with the US, said: “When it comes to tariffs, our first line of defence is dissuasion. Although this is not the ideal scenario, Europe is capable of resisting, retaliating and protecting its key sectors.”