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The European Union is reacting strongly to President Donald Trump’s recent trade reform initiatives, with various EU leaders expressing their discontent over changes to long-standing trade relationships.
Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who remains in office despite losing February’s Federal elections, delivered a forceful critique of Trump’s trade policies on Thursday. “This is an attack on a trade order that has created prosperity all over the globe,” Scholz declared, labeling the approach “fundamentally wrong” and predicting that “there will only be losers,” according to Tagesspiegel.
Scholz encouraged the European Union to demonstrate its strength, suggesting a confrontational response rather than following Britain’s more diplomatic negotiation strategy. The EU, which faces double the tariffs imposed on post-Brexit Britain due to its protectionist policies, finds itself particularly affected by these changes.
Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs hit hard—10% on everything, 34% on China, and no mercy for freeloaders like the EU.
The Senate voted 51-48 against his Canada plan, with RINOs siding with Dems to coddle drug smugglers.
Weak.
We need leaders who back Trump’s vision, not… pic.twitter.com/IYG8eJ6CAq
— Chase Geiser (@realchasegeiser) April 3, 2025
European leadership has attempted to reshape the narrative around Trump’s self-proclaimed ‘Liberation Day,’ with German foreign officials recasting it as ‘Inflation Day’ in an effort to highlight potential economic consequences for European citizens.
Despite their vocal opposition to Trump’s policies, German officials appear to believe that a show of unified resistance could force the U.S. President to abandon his stance. Robert Habeck, Minister for Economic Affairs and Vice Chancellor, suggested that sufficient international pressure could lead Trump to reverse course, stating “This pressure must be exerted now.”
Habeck outlined potential countermeasures, including new taxation on American technology companies, declaring that all options remained viable. The German administration’s strategy seems rooted in the conviction that the United States stands to lose the most from these trade barriers.
European leaders condemning Trump’s tariffs.
They said, economy will be creating 'chaos' and threatens counter measures as global leaders react in horror to President Trump’s 'Liberation Day'
If the EU lowers tariffs, the US will reciprocate. How hard is this to understand??…
— Judy ⛳️ (@judytgolf) April 3, 2025
Other European nations have joined the chorus of criticism, with Polish officials describing it as “a painful and bitter blow,” while French representatives termed it a “catastrophe.”
Individual EU member states can freely criticize American policy because Brussels controls their trade decisions. The EU itself must exercise more caution in its criticism, given its own extensive use of protective tariffs.
EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič carefully worded his response, noting that “Unjustified tariffs inevitably backfire,” implicitly suggesting that European tariffs remain legitimate while American ones do not. He indicated the EU would carefully measure its response while maintaining dialogue, but cautioned against passive acceptance if Washington failed to offer “a fair deal.” Šefčovič confirmed plans to engage with American officials the following day.
