EU Vows Strong Response to Trump’s Tariff Threats

[Social Media]

 

The European Union has warned that it will "respond firmly" if former U.S. President Donald Trump moves forward with imposing tariffs that could impact its member states. The statement comes amid growing trade tensions between the U.S. and its global partners.  

 

A spokesperson for the EU stated that the 27-member bloc was unaware of any new tariffs being imposed on its products but stressed that the use of tariffs is harmful to all parties involved. “The EU would respond firmly to any trading partner that unfairly or arbitrarily imposes tariffs on EU goods,” the spokesperson said, according to Bloomberg. “There is a lot at stake.”  

 

The warning follows Trump’s recent decision to implement significant tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. The executive order he signed enforces a 25 percent tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada, while Chinese imports will face a 10 percent tariff. The new measures are scheduled to take effect on Tuesday.  

 

"Prime Minister Starmer has been very nice. We will see whether or not we can balance out our budget. With the European Union, it is a $350 billion deficit. Obviously, something will take place there."

Trump: Prime Minister Starmer has been very nice. We will see whether or not we can balance out our budget. With the European Union, it is a $350 billion deficit. Obviously, something will take place there. pic.twitter.com/IL9DJMHoU5

— Acyn (@Acyn) February 3, 2025

 

Despite concerns over the economic consequences, Trump defended his decision, arguing that any financial hardship caused by the tariffs would be justified. He stated that the economic pain would be “worth the price.”  

 

Tensions between Trump and the EU have been escalating for months. In December, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on the EU unless it agreed to buy large quantities of American oil and gas to help offset the growing U.S. trade deficit. However, the EU already purchases substantial amounts of American energy, and additional supplies would not be available unless the U.S. significantly increased production.  

 

Further straining relations, Trump has previously expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, a territory owned by Denmark. Danish officials have repeatedly rejected the idea, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen having a reportedly "fiery" conversation with Trump over the matter.  

 

As trade disputes continue to unfold, the EU’s latest warning signals that it is prepared to take strong action if Trump follows through with imposing tariffs that affect European industries.

 

Based on a report by The Hill 2025-02-04

 

 

[Tailwagsdog]

They should hope he doesn't backdate the Tariffs ...

[hotsun]

Tariffs should go on any country taking advantage during the Biden admin, that includes Thailand i think

[Cryingdick]

What actually comes from Europe the USA can't live without? Wine? California has been winning all the international awards for years now. We make cheese as good as any if you pay for it.  I can't think of anything they have that I need. 

[thesetat]

I think these tariffs would increase prices on the goods imported into the USA. But, that does not make you have to buy those imported  products. There has been unfair trading between the US and most countries for many years. All of these countries take advantage of the US. 

I also believe if the cost for imports is raised in the stores. That people in the US will see an opportunity to manufacture the same thing for cheaper causing a rippling effect on consumerism and increasing markets and jobs within the US itself. 

Noone forces you to buy something imported. It is a luxury the same as you do in Thailand. 

Noone complains the cost of things they buy at Villa Market or the other foreigner stores. The people in the US will have to adjust. In the meantime, Trump is also correct about the deficit and the need to reduce it. 

[PuiPuiHarry]

1 hour ago, Cryingdick said:

What actually comes from Europe the USA can't live without? Wine? California has been winning all the international awards for years now. We make cheese as good as any if you pay for it.  I can't think of anything they have that I need. 

 

This only can be written by an American, who does not have an idea and is not able to search on Internet.

 

European Union Exports to United States was US$527.49 Billion during 2022, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. European Union Exports to United States - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on February of 2025.

 

European Union Exports to United States	Value	Year
Pharmaceutical products	$91.96B	2022
Machinery, nuclear reactors, boilers	$83.92B	2022
Vehicles other than railway, tramway	$53.93B	2022
Electrical, electronic equipment	$37.39B	2022
Optical, photo, technical, medical apparatus	$36.49B	2022
Organic chemicals	$31.62B	2022
Mineral fuels, oils, distillation products	$19.65B	2022
Plastics	$11.88B	2022
Beverages, spirits and vinegar	$11.78B	2022
Aircraft, spacecraft	$10.88B	2022
Ships, boats, and other floating structures	$9.79B	2022
Pearls, precious stones, metals, coins	$9.60B	2022
Articles of iron or steel	$8.38B	2022
Miscellaneous chemical products	$7.54B	2022
Iron and steel	$6.53B	2022
Furniture, lighting signs, prefabricated buildings	$5.91B	2022
Essential oils, perfumes, cosmetics, toileteries	$5.56B	2022
Paper and paperboard, articles of pulp, paper and board	$4.62B	2022
Rubbers	$4.59B	2022
Wood and articles of wood, wood charcoal	$4.01B	2022
Inorganic chemicals, precious metal compound, isotope	$3.92B	2022
Articles of leather, animal gut, harness, travel good	$3.71B	2022
Footwear, gaiters and the like,	$3.55B	2022
Articles of apparel, not knit or crocheted	$3.23B	2022
Aluminum	$3.07B	2022
Cereal, flour, starch, milk preparations and products	$2.36B	2022
Tools, implements, cutlery of base metal	$2.20B	2022
Ceramic products	$2.10B	2022
Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials	$2.08B	2022
Vegetable, fruit, nut food preparations	$2.04B	2022
Glass and glassware	$1.98B	2022
Animal, vegetable fats and oils, cleavage products	$1.93B	2022
Tanning, dyeing extracts, tannins, derivatives, pigments	$1.89B	2022
Arms and ammunition, parts and accessories	$1.87B	2022
Articles of apparel, knit or crocheted	$1.80B	2022
Miscellaneous edible preparations	$1.71B	2022
Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques	$1.69B	2022
Copper	$1.68B	2022
Dairy products, eggs, honey, edible products	$1.67B	2022
Miscellaneous articles of base metal	$1.62B	2022
Albuminoids, modified starches, glues, enzymes	$1.59B	2022
Toys, games, sports requisites	$1.43B	2022
Cocoa and cocoa preparations	$1.18B	2022
Soaps, lubricants, waxes, candles, modelling pastes	$1.10B	2022
Nickel	$1.05B	2022
Base metals not specified elsewhere, cermets.	$989.01M	2022
Commodities not specified according to kind	$987.51M	2022
Fish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatics invertebrates	$941.17M	2022
Sugars and sugar confectionery	$742.87M	2022
Coffee, tea, mate and spices	$730.70M	2022
Printed books, newspapers, pictures	$723.71M	2022
Miscellanneous manufactured articles	$714.90M	2022
Wadding, felt, nonwovens, yarns, twine, cordage	$679.35M	2022
Live animals	$676.69M	2022
Lac, gums, resins	$660.78M	2022
Meat and edible meat offal	$644.00M	2022
Fertilizers	$622.28M	2022
Residues, wastes of food industry, animal fodder	$611.34M	2022
Other made textile articles, sets, worn clothing	$568.01M	2022
Railway, tramway locomotives, rolling stock, equipment	$529.02M	2022
Impregnated, coated or laminated textile fabric	$502.92M	2022
Photographic or cinematographic goods	$498.85M	2022
Oil seed, oleagic fruits, grain, seed, fruits	$497.57M	2022
Milling products, malt, starches, inlin, wheat gluten	$485.76M	2022
Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers	$434.97M	2022
Salt, sulphur, earth, stone, plaster, lime and cement	$425.81M	2022
Meat, fish and seafood preparations	$393.68M	2022
Clocks and watches	$384.77M	2022
Manmade staple fibers	$375.76M	2022
Live trees, plants, bulbs, roots, cut flowers	$369.07M	2022
Manmade filaments	$349.44M	2022
Pulp of wood, fibrous cellulosic material, waste	$328.97M	2022
Musical instruments, parts and accessories	$262.15M	2022
Cork and articles of cork	$258.11M	2022
Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather	$256.04M	2022
Carpets and other textile floor coverings	$225.83M	2022
Explosives, pyrotechnics, matches, pyrophorics	$216.17M	2022
Ores slag and ash	$188.55M	2022
Edible fruits, nuts, peel of citrus fruit, melons	$185.76M	2022
Headgear and	$185.32M	2022
Zinc	$159.70M	2022
Products of animal origin	$157.59M	2022
Knitted or crocheted fabric	$139.64M	2022
Cereals	$126.39M	2022
Furskins and artificial fur, manufactures	$118.14M	2022
Cotton	$117.61M	2022
Special woven or tufted fabric, lace, tapestry	$111.86M	2022
Tobacco and manufactures tobacco substitutes	$110.39M	2022
Wool, animal hair, horsehair yarn and fabric	$99.78M	2022
Tin	$94.32M	2022
Vegetable textile fibers not specified elsewhere, paper yarn, woven fabric	$78.63M	2022
Lead	$18.79M	2022
Bird skin, feathers, artificial flowers, human hair	$18.73M	2022
Umbrellas, walking-sticks, seat-sticks, whips	$17.85M	2022
Silk	$14.29M	2022
Manufacturers of plaiting material, basketwork	$13.40M	2022
Vegetable plaiting materials, vegetable products	$4.18M	2022

[PuiPuiHarry]

1 hour ago, thesetat said:

I think these tariffs would increase prices on the goods imported into the USA. But, that does not make you have to buy those imported  products. There has been unfair trading between the US and most countries for many years. All of these countries take advantage of the US. 

I also believe if the cost for imports is raised in the stores. That people in the US will see an opportunity to manufacture the same thing for cheaper causing a rippling effect on consumerism and increasing markets and jobs within the US itself. 

Noone forces you to buy something imported. It is a luxury the same as you do in Thailand. 

Noone complains the cost of things they buy at Villa Market or the other foreigner stores. The people in the US will have to adjust. In the meantime, Trump is also correct about the deficit and the need to reduce it. 

 When a nation is not able to produce itsself at competative conditions, and worth buying, the only alternative is import it, just as the EU buys software and entertainment from the USA.

Time to make European based movies, and software. And of course EU waponry and planes. US cars.. too big, to thirsty. With some luck, the best the EU could wish for =  the MAGA of Liar Trump.

 

See, what Eurobus and others can take away form the US exxports. Time to support these ar max:

Airbus SE, ThyssenKrupp AG, BAE Systems Plc, Thales SA, and Safran SA are the top 5 aerospace and defense companies in Europe in 2021

 

See how much of the EU import ex USA = oil and gas. Look at the oil and gas reserves of Ukraine, especially around the Krim. Then you understand the reason of this war.

 

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/4187653/18051216/eu-most-imported-goods-2023-2022.png/d1d3e79f-5cbc-4926-dd44-756ef9d3b128?t=1709890209338

[Cryingdick]

28 minutes ago, PuiPuiHarry said:

 

This only can be written by an American, who does not have an idea and is not able to search on Internet.

 

European Union Exports to United States was US$527.49 Billion during 2022, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. European Union Exports to United States - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on February of 2025.

 

European Union Exports to United States	Value	Year
Pharmaceutical products	$91.96B	2022
Machinery, nuclear reactors, boilers	$83.92B	2022
Vehicles other than railway, tramway	$53.93B	2022
Electrical, electronic equipment	$37.39B	2022
Optical, photo, technical, medical apparatus	$36.49B	2022
Organic chemicals	$31.62B	2022
Mineral fuels, oils, distillation products	$19.65B	2022
Plastics	$11.88B	2022
Beverages, spirits and vinegar	$11.78B	2022
Aircraft, spacecraft	$10.88B	2022
Ships, boats, and other floating structures	$9.79B	2022
Pearls, precious stones, metals, coins	$9.60B	2022
Articles of iron or steel	$8.38B	2022
Miscellaneous chemical products	$7.54B	2022
Iron and steel	$6.53B	2022
Furniture, lighting signs, prefabricated buildings	$5.91B	2022
Essential oils, perfumes, cosmetics, toileteries	$5.56B	2022
Paper and paperboard, articles of pulp, paper and board	$4.62B	2022
Rubbers	$4.59B	2022
Wood and articles of wood, wood charcoal	$4.01B	2022
Inorganic chemicals, precious metal compound, isotope	$3.92B	2022
Articles of leather, animal gut, harness, travel good	$3.71B	2022
Footwear, gaiters and the like,	$3.55B	2022
Articles of apparel, not knit or crocheted	$3.23B	2022
Aluminum	$3.07B	2022
Cereal, flour, starch, milk preparations and products	$2.36B	2022
Tools, implements, cutlery of base metal	$2.20B	2022
Ceramic products	$2.10B	2022
Stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica or similar materials	$2.08B	2022
Vegetable, fruit, nut food preparations	$2.04B	2022
Glass and glassware	$1.98B	2022
Animal, vegetable fats and oils, cleavage products	$1.93B	2022
Tanning, dyeing extracts, tannins, derivatives, pigments	$1.89B	2022
Arms and ammunition, parts and accessories	$1.87B	2022
Articles of apparel, knit or crocheted	$1.80B	2022
Miscellaneous edible preparations	$1.71B	2022
Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques	$1.69B	2022
Copper	$1.68B	2022
Dairy products, eggs, honey, edible products	$1.67B	2022
Miscellaneous articles of base metal	$1.62B	2022
Albuminoids, modified starches, glues, enzymes	$1.59B	2022
Toys, games, sports requisites	$1.43B	2022
Cocoa and cocoa preparations	$1.18B	2022
Soaps, lubricants, waxes, candles, modelling pastes	$1.10B	2022
Nickel	$1.05B	2022
Base metals not specified elsewhere, cermets.	$989.01M	2022
Commodities not specified according to kind	$987.51M	2022
Fish, crustaceans, molluscs, aquatics invertebrates	$941.17M	2022
Sugars and sugar confectionery	$742.87M	2022
Coffee, tea, mate and spices	$730.70M	2022
Printed books, newspapers, pictures	$723.71M	2022
Miscellanneous manufactured articles	$714.90M	2022
Wadding, felt, nonwovens, yarns, twine, cordage	$679.35M	2022
Live animals	$676.69M	2022
Lac, gums, resins	$660.78M	2022
Meat and edible meat offal	$644.00M	2022
Fertilizers	$622.28M	2022
Residues, wastes of food industry, animal fodder	$611.34M	2022
Other made textile articles, sets, worn clothing	$568.01M	2022
Railway, tramway locomotives, rolling stock, equipment	$529.02M	2022
Impregnated, coated or laminated textile fabric	$502.92M	2022
Photographic or cinematographic goods	$498.85M	2022
Oil seed, oleagic fruits, grain, seed, fruits	$497.57M	2022
Milling products, malt, starches, inlin, wheat gluten	$485.76M	2022
Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers	$434.97M	2022
Salt, sulphur, earth, stone, plaster, lime and cement	$425.81M	2022
Meat, fish and seafood preparations	$393.68M	2022
Clocks and watches	$384.77M	2022
Manmade staple fibers	$375.76M	2022
Live trees, plants, bulbs, roots, cut flowers	$369.07M	2022
Manmade filaments	$349.44M	2022
Pulp of wood, fibrous cellulosic material, waste	$328.97M	2022
Musical instruments, parts and accessories	$262.15M	2022
Cork and articles of cork	$258.11M	2022
Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather	$256.04M	2022
Carpets and other textile floor coverings	$225.83M	2022
Explosives, pyrotechnics, matches, pyrophorics	$216.17M	2022
Ores slag and ash	$188.55M	2022
Edible fruits, nuts, peel of citrus fruit, melons	$185.76M	2022
Headgear and	$185.32M	2022
Zinc	$159.70M	2022
Products of animal origin	$157.59M	2022
Knitted or crocheted fabric	$139.64M	2022
Cereals	$126.39M	2022
Furskins and artificial fur, manufactures	$118.14M	2022
Cotton	$117.61M	2022
Special woven or tufted fabric, lace, tapestry	$111.86M	2022
Tobacco and manufactures tobacco substitutes	$110.39M	2022
Wool, animal hair, horsehair yarn and fabric	$99.78M	2022
Tin	$94.32M	2022
Vegetable textile fibers not specified elsewhere, paper yarn, woven fabric	$78.63M	2022
Lead	$18.79M	2022
Bird skin, feathers, artificial flowers, human hair	$18.73M	2022
Umbrellas, walking-sticks, seat-sticks, whips	$17.85M	2022
Silk	$14.29M	2022
Manufacturers of plaiting material, basketwork	$13.40M	2022
Vegetable plaiting materials, vegetable products	$4.18M	2022

There are about three things on that list that actually may or may not matter. Most of it can be sourced from anywhere. Now if we cut Europe off you wouldn't have any internet technology. 

 

By all mean do it if you want to go back to candlelit castles.

[Cryingdick]

looking at that list again you must be joking. America doesn't [produce enough pulp to make carrboard or paper? Are you insane? We have more than all of Europe without Canada, it's what we do. Your list is dishonest.

[JimHuaHin]

Is there any country, apart from Israel, that Trump has not threatened?

[JonnyF]

Stick it to 'em Donald. They've been taking the mickey for far too long. They absolutely love imposing tariffs on imports, let's see how they like it when the shoe is on the other foot.

 

This could be yet another upside of Brexit. Thank god we left the failing federalist cesspit of corruption and protectionism that is the EU. 

[newbee2022]

2 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

What actually comes from Europe the USA can't live without? Wine? California has been winning all the international awards for years now. We make cheese as good as any if you pay for it.  I can't think of anything they have that I need. 

Of you honestly want to know look here:

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=USA-EU_-_international_trade_in_goods_statistics

[newbee2022]

2 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Stick it to 'em Donald. They've been taking the mickey for far too long. They absolutely love imposing tariffs on imports, let's see how they like it when the shoe is on the other foot.

 

This could be yet another upside of Brexit. Thank god we left the failing federalist cesspit of corruption and protectionism that is the EU. 

...the ant is speaking 🤗

[Red Forever]

30 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

...the ant is speaking 🤗

His Trump brown tongueing posts are becoming increasingly unhinged .

Just heard that Trump tariffs have been shelved for 30 days.

Ha hahaha!

[Yagoda]

Who cares what they threaten. They will cave, just like Canada and Mexico.

 

Otherwise, gonna be a dark one for the eurowhiners next winter. OK by me, they have been sucking off us since 1917

[JonnyF]

43 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

...the ant is speaking 🤗

 

So is the nob, it would appear. 

[hotsun]

55 minutes ago, JimHuaHin said:

Is there any country, apart from Israel, that Trump has not threatened?

Is there any country, apart from Israel, that hasnt been taking advantage of the Biden admin?

[JonnyF]

10 minutes ago, Red Forever said:

His Trump brown tongueing posts are becoming increasingly unhinged .

Just heard that Trump tariffs have been shelved for 30 days.

Ha hahaha!

 

Trump is (obviously) negotiating. 

 

He's frightened the life out of them, now he will let them stew for a month. He appears to have gained concessions already.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70kn4676p4o

 

[herfiehandbag]

3 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

What actually comes from Europe the USA can't live without? Wine? California has been winning all the international awards for years now. We make cheese as good as any if you pay for it.  I can't think of anything they have that I need. 

That might be because, in a free consumer society such as the USA still has (although perhaps on the cusp of becoming one which prevents its citizens from buying what they may wish to buy) people prefer to buy wine and cheese from European suppliers.

There is a trade imbalance essentially because US consumers choose to buy products from Europe.

 

As for that foul, oozing, yellow, chemical impregnated gunk which your supermarkets pass off as cheese...

[Purdey]

America needs to be more competitive. Lower the minimum wage to $6.

Can't do that? Then hard to compete. 

[Eric Loh]

"30 days paused on wrecking our economy in exchange for some border theatre to stop an almost non-existent cross-border problem" Bruce Arthur, Toronto Star. Brilliant summation of the idiocy of Trump's tariff war. The so called master negotiator was exposed as a paper tiger by Trudeau. 

[stevenl]

Just now, Eric Loh said:

"30 days paused on wrecking our economy in exchange for some border theatre to stop an almost non-existent cross-border problem" Bruce Arthur, Toronto Star. Brilliant summation of the idiocy of Trump's tariff war. The so called master negotiator was exposed as a paper tiger by Trudeau. 

No changes, but trump will claim victory.

 

 

[pegman]

4 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

What actually comes from Europe the USA can't live without? Wine? California has been winning all the international awards for years now. We make cheese as good as any if you pay for it.  I can't think of anything they have that I need. 

How about Airbus planes? The ones you Yanks build, Boeings, can't seem to stay in the air. 

[newbee2022]

1 hour ago, Red Forever said:

His Trump brown tongueing posts are becoming increasingly unhinged .

Just heard that Trump tariffs have been shelved for 30 days.

Ha hahaha!

Well, that says it all about big mouth Trump

[Presnock]

1 hour ago, Red Forever said:

His Trump brown tongueing posts are becoming increasingly unhinged .

Just heard that Trump tariffs have been shelved for 30 days.

Ha hahaha!

yeah, shelved Canada afte Trudeau spoke with Trump and probably sending troops to the border area and Mexico after the Mexican govt sent military to block the immigrants going to the US.  China - who knows what they are up but I also read that Panama is trying to break the long-term agreement with China and the use by China of the canal.  Just saying, I am not a fan of useless tariffs, any price increases due to the tariffs, only means consumers don't have to buy those products.  To buy many products from other countries, usually means that someone in the US could not producce the same quality product at a better price.  My opinion anyway. and I have never been a fan of Trump nor of Biden and any Democrat.

[pegman]

12 minutes ago, Presnock said:

yeah, shelved Canada afte Trudeau spoke with Trump and probably sending troops to the border area and Mexico after the Mexican govt sent military to block the immigrants going to the US.  China - who knows what they are up but I also read that Panama is trying to break the long-term agreement with China and the use by China of the canal.  Just saying, I am not a fan of useless tariffs, any price increases due to the tariffs, only means consumers don't have to buy those products.  To buy many products from other countries, usually means that someone in the US could not producce the same quality product at a better price.  My opinion anyway. and I have never been a fan of Trump nor of Biden and any Democrat.

True, for example farm fertilizer is 95% made up of potash. About 90 percent of the potash used in the United States is imported from Canada. Increase fertilizer input costs by nearly 25% you have some very angry American farmers on your hands. Trump never intended on following through with terrace. It was all bluff and bluster and everyone should have known that. Let's not forget that Trump is the one who surrendered Afghanistan to the goat herder Taliban. When he was a young man he was a draft dodger whose old man bribed someone at the recruitment centre so the coward would not have to go to war like his peers. The leaders of Mexico and Canada know who they're up against and just go along to humour him. It's all about trying to entertain the MAGA nuts which doesn't take much.

[Presnock]

3 minutes ago, pegman said:

True, for example farm fertilizer is 95% made up of potash. About 90 percent of the potash used in the United States is imported from Canada. Increase fertilizer input costs by nearly 25% you have some very angry American farmers on your hands. Trump never intended on following through with terrace. It was all bluff and bluster and everyone should have known that. Let's not forget that Trump is the one who surrendered Afghanistan to the goat herder Taliban. When he was a young man he was a draft dodger whose old man bribed someone at the recruitment centre so the coward would not have to go to war like his peers. The leaders of Mexico and Canada know who they're up against and just go along to humour him. It's all about trying to entertain the MAGA nuts which doesn't take much.

Yessir mentioning how great a negotiator he was for Afghanistan, look at that country today - back to the stone ages!   He just gave in to the Taliban as he knew he would be out of office by the time the US troops had to leave.  Hope the world can survive for the next 4 years until hopefully someone more qualified for that office is elected.

[Eric Loh]

28 minutes ago, Presnock said:

China - who knows what they are up but I also read that Panama is trying to break the long-term agreement with China and the use by China of the canal. 

Honestly SOS Marco Rubio left Panama with nothing but a promise from President Mulino to study the agreement with China. That's a far cry from the brazen mandate from his boss to retake Panama if necessary by force,