EU Comments On Trump Tariff Statement
The escalating trade tensions between the United States and the European Union took a dramatic turn on Thursday as EU leaders pushed back against President Donald Trump’s accusations that the 27-nation bloc was deliberately undermining the U.S. economy. The EU’s response was swift and unwavering, making it clear that any attempt to impose broad 25% tariffs on European products would be met with strong countermeasures.
Trump’s remarks—claiming that the EU was “formed in order to screw the United States”—sparked outrage among European officials, further widening the transatlantic divide that had already been strained by his administration’s approach to security commitments in Europe. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose country currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, was among the first to respond, calling Trump’s assertion completely unfounded. “The EU wasn’t formed to screw anyone,” Tusk said bluntly, emphasizing that its foundation was built on peace, respect, and fair trade.
The message from Brussels was equally resolute. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, speaking at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, rejected the idea that Europe was acting against U.S. interests, stressing that both sides should be working together rather than engaging in economic brinkmanship. Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez took a more combative tone, warning that the EU would not hesitate to defend its economic sovereignty against what he described as “completely unjustified” tariffs.
The EU’s strategy, should Trump follow through with his threats, is clear: retaliation will be immediate and targeted. European officials have already drawn up plans to impose tariffs on emblematic American industries, including bourbon, jeans, and motorcycles—products that have long been the focus of European countermeasures in past trade disputes. Metsola reinforced the bloc’s readiness, stating, “We are very ready for anything. The EU will react firmly and immediately.”
Trump, however, remained defiant, brushing aside concerns about European retaliation. “We are the pot of gold,” he declared, insisting that the U.S. could simply cut off trade if necessary, a move he believes would ultimately force the EU to back down.
At stake is a massive economic relationship, with transatlantic trade amounting to roughly $1.5 trillion annually. While Trump has consistently criticized the trade imbalance between the two sides—pointing to the EU’s substantial surplus in goods—Brussels argues that the trade of services, where the U.S. enjoys a surplus, balances the equation.
Meanwhile, Taiwan has also found itself at the center of Trump’s economic agenda. In response to the former president’s remarks that Taiwan had taken away the U.S. semiconductor business, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te sought to reassure Washington of his country’s commitment to cooperation.
Taiwan’s role in the global semiconductor supply chain is critical, with TSMC producing chips for major American companies like Apple, Intel, and Nvidia. Recognizing the potential threat posed by Trump’s call for reciprocal tariffs, Lai underscored the importance of a global semiconductor “ecosystem,” emphasizing that Taiwan’s investments in the U.S. already surpass those in China.
In an effort to reinforce economic and strategic ties with Washington, Lai proposed a new “global semiconductor democratic supply chain partnership initiative” aimed at strengthening cooperation with the U.S. and other allies. At the same time, Taiwan is ramping up its defense spending, with plans to allocate over 3% of its GDP to bolster national security—a move that underscores the island’s geopolitical significance amid shifting U.S. policies.