In Brussels, pressure is mounting for the EU to leverage the World Trade Organization and collaborate with global partners to de-escalate the crisis through diplomatic means. In that spirit, a high-level European Parliament delegation has been dispatched to Washington for discussions with members of the U.S. Congress.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen placed a call to Chinese Premier Li Qiang ahead of the 50th anniversary of EU-China diplomatic relations in 2025. The conversation quickly shifted to the immediate crisis. Von der Leyen emphasized Europe\u2019s and China\u2019s shared responsibility, as two of the world\u2019s largest markets, to support a strong, reformed trading system\u2014free, fair, and founded on a level playing field. She urged China to play a critical role in mitigating the risk of trade diversion, particularly in sectors already strained by global overcapacity.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s tariffs<\/a>, which he has cast as a nationalist triumph, have sent shockwaves across the global economy, marking what could be a pivotal moment in economic history. The question confronting Europe is how to respond\u2014an answer that may shape the continent\u2019s trajectory for years to come.<\/p>\n The response in Brussels was swift and fierce. Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament\u2019s International Trade Committee, pulled no punches. \u201cWhile President Trump might have called it \u2018Liberation Day,\u2019 from an ordinary citizen\u2019s point of view, this was \u2018Inflation Day.\u2019 These unjustified, illegal, and disproportionate measures can only lead to further tariff escalation and a downward economic spiral for the U.S. and the world as a whole. Because of this decision, U.S. consumers will be forced to carry the heaviest burden in a trade war.\u201d<\/p>\n His outrage was echoed by Martin Schirdewan, co-leader of The Left in the EU Parliament, who warned, \u201cThe working class are always the first to suffer in war, and a trade war is no different. Trump\u2019s tariffs will hurt European industry and the American working class first and foremost. While the EU must react with our own trade measures, we need targeted tariffs that hit Trump\u2019s allies and the American oligarchs who are enriching themselves at the expense of workers.\u201d<\/p>\n Terry Reintke, co-leader of the Greens\/EFA Group in the European Parliament, added a note of caution, warning that tariffs \u201cultimately hurt everyone\u201d and would drive up car prices in both Europe and the United States. She insisted the EU\u2019s response must be \u201cclear and decisive,\u201d declaring, \u201cWe will not let Donald Trump divide us.\u201d<\/p>\n Criticism has also poured in from the business sector. BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer warned that additional duties on cars and car parts will raise costs and risk undermining investments across both continents. \u201cInstead of increasing tariffs, the EU and the US should be committed to eliminating duties to generate more market opportunities and stimulate investments,\u201d he argued.<\/p>\n The European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions (EFFAT) expressed \u201cdeep concern\u201d about the tariffs\u2019 impact on an agricultural trade relationship worth more than \u20ac30 billion annually. European exports of wine, cheese, chocolate, olive oil, and spirits to the U.S. support hundreds of thousands of jobs\u2014many of them in rural communities and small businesses. In turn, the EU imports vital commodities such as nuts, soy, beef, animal feed, and wheat from the U.S.<\/p>\n \u201cThese tariffs unfairly target European producers and workers, putting pressure on wages, job security, and market stability,\u201d warned Enrico Somaglia, EFFAT\u2019s General Secretary. Yet he cautioned against a tit-for-tat escalation, warning that retaliatory measures could further destabilize food markets, drive up prices, and endanger food security.<\/p>\n In assessing Trump\u2019s initial 20 percent tariffs\u2014now reduced to 10 percent\u2014it is crucial to step back and consider the broader picture to inform the EU\u2019s policy response.<\/p>\n Anna Kolesnichenko, a policy analyst at the Foundation for European Progressive Studies, acknowledged that Trump\u2019s tariffs would undoubtedly disrupt European exporters and contract production. Yet she also identified a potential silver lining: the opportunity to correct systemic global imbalances.<\/p>\n Kolesnichenko argues, \u201cIt is well known that the trade regime that we had so far has produced many distortions in the global economy: some countries are running massive current account surpluses (China and Germany), others (notably US) are in current account deficit. Trump is correctly concerned about this. Trump\u2019s method, however, is sub-optimal, to put it mildly. A much better solution would be capital controls on financial flows to the U.S., which would also cause rebalancing of trade.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"European](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/7617018831417.jpg\")
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. (European Commission)<\/p>\n