By AFP
April 3, 2025
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned that US tariffs upend the global trade order - Copyright AFP Tobias SCHWARZ
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday slammed sweeping new US tariffs as “fundamentally wrong” as Berlin warned that the European Union could retaliate by targeting American tech titans.
“This is an attack on a trade order that has created prosperity all over the globe, a trade order that is essentially the result of American efforts,” Scholz said, a day after US President Donald Trump unveiled the wide-ranging duties on friends and foes alike.
Echoing comments by the EU chief, Scholz said “we are ready for talks with the American government” to find a solution but stressed that Europe would “respond decisively, strongly and appropriately” if negotiations fail.
Economy Minister Robert Habeck suggested that the bloc could go after American tech titans by hitting them with a tax, insisting that “everything is on the table” as the EU mulls its response.
“The big tech companies have an incredible dominance in Europe and are largely exempt from European taxes,” he told a press conference.
France earlier said the EU plans to “attack online services” in response to the tariffs.
Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, stands to be hit hard by the tariffs as the United States is its top export destination, and its companies ship huge quantities of goods, from cars to chemicals, to the world’s top economy.
– Germany under pressure –
Habeck warned that “US tariff mania” could “drag countries into recession and cause massive harm worldwide. With dire consequences for many people.”
“For consumers in the US, the day will not be ‘Liberation Day’ but ‘Inflation Day’,” he said, referring to the term Trump used to describe the new duties.
Germany’s top business groups also lined up to denounce the new duties, which come on top of other recently announced US tariffs.
The tariffs were “an unprecedented attack on the international world trade system, free trade and global supply chains”, said leading industry federation BDI.
“The justification for this protectionist escalation is not comprehensible,” said Wolfgang Niedermark, a member of the group’s executive board.
“It threatens our export-oriented companies and endangers prosperity, stability, jobs, innovation and investments worldwide.”
US duties of 25 percent on imported cars also took effect Thursday, a huge blow for German titans like Volkswagen, Mercedes and BMW, for whom the United States is a major export market.
Germany’s main auto industry group, the VDA, urged the EU to respond to the tariffs with “necessary force, while continuing to signal its willingness to negotiate”.
EU to target US online services after Trump tariffs: France
By AFP
April 3, 2025
The European Union is 'ready for a trade war', says French government spokeswoman Sophie Primas - Copyright AFP Jade GAO
The European Union is “ready for a trade war” with the United States and plans to “attack online services” in response to Donald Trump’s new tariffs, the French government spokeswoman said Thursday.
“We are pretty sure that we are indeed going to see an adverse effect on production,” Sophie Primas told broadcaster RTL, expressing particular concern about the “strong” impact on wine and spirits.
“We have a whole range of tools and we are ready for this trade war,” she added. “Then we will look at how we can support our production industries.”
Trump “thinks he is the master of the world”, Primas added.
“It is an imperialist stance that we had somewhat forgotten about, but which is returning with great force and great determination.”
On Wednesday, US President Trump unveiled stinging tariffs on major trade partners including China and the European Union on what he called “Liberation Day”.
Primas said the EU was preparing a two-stage response, with “an initial response”, to be put in place around mid-April, concerning aluminium and steel.
Then the EU will target “all products and services”, with the measures probably ready at the end of April, she said, adding this was still being discussed.
“But we are also going to attack services. For example, online services, which are not taxed today but could be,” Primas said.
The EU’s response could also concern “access to our procurement contracts”, she said.
President Emmanuel Macron will meet Thursday with representatives of French sectors “impacted by the tariff measures” announced by Trump, his office said.
The meeting is set to take place at 1400 GMT.
By AFP
April 3, 2025
The European Union is 'ready for a trade war', says French government spokeswoman Sophie Primas - Copyright AFP Jade GAO
The European Union is “ready for a trade war” with the United States and plans to “attack online services” in response to Donald Trump’s new tariffs, the French government spokeswoman said Thursday.
“We are pretty sure that we are indeed going to see an adverse effect on production,” Sophie Primas told broadcaster RTL, expressing particular concern about the “strong” impact on wine and spirits.
“We have a whole range of tools and we are ready for this trade war,” she added. “Then we will look at how we can support our production industries.”
Trump “thinks he is the master of the world”, Primas added.
“It is an imperialist stance that we had somewhat forgotten about, but which is returning with great force and great determination.”
On Wednesday, US President Trump unveiled stinging tariffs on major trade partners including China and the European Union on what he called “Liberation Day”.
Primas said the EU was preparing a two-stage response, with “an initial response”, to be put in place around mid-April, concerning aluminium and steel.
Then the EU will target “all products and services”, with the measures probably ready at the end of April, she said, adding this was still being discussed.
“But we are also going to attack services. For example, online services, which are not taxed today but could be,” Primas said.
The EU’s response could also concern “access to our procurement contracts”, she said.
President Emmanuel Macron will meet Thursday with representatives of French sectors “impacted by the tariff measures” announced by Trump, his office said.
The meeting is set to take place at 1400 GMT.
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