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BRUSSELS — European Union leaders meeting in Brussels on Monday warned the United States that no one benefits from a trade war, reiterating that they will take retaliatory measures if President Donald Trump imposes tariffs or taxes. French President Emmanuel Macron has said the European Union must show its strength if President Donald Trump carries out his threat to target the EU with a series of tariffs. "If we are attacked on trade, Europe – a real power – must defend itself," Macron said. The leaders of the 27 European Union member states are meeting in the Belgian capital, along with the British Prime Minister and the head of NATO, to discuss efforts to strengthen European defense amid a growing threat from Russia - and President Trump's demands that US allies increase their defense spending. However, the talks have been overshadowed by the US leader's decision to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China - with Trump threatening to target the European Union in the future. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, said everything must be done to avoid an "unnecessary and foolish" trade war. Trump has made no secret of his hostility towards the European Union, accusing it of treating the United States "very, very unfairly" on trade. After imposing additional tariffs on neighboring North American countries and China, Trump doubled down on Sunday, saying he "definitely" plans to target the European Union in the future. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said a trade dispute is "bad for the United States, bad for Europe," and that "cooperation" between the two sides of the Atlantic is in the interests of both sides. "We can respond," he added, dismissing Germany's cautious approach to trade relations on both sides of the Atlantic. "We need the United States, and the United States needs us," said the European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, adding that "no one wins trade wars." On Sunday, the European Commission said it would respond "firmly" if Trump targets it, and condemned his actions against Canada, Mexico and China. "Taxes create unnecessary economic disruption and drive up inflation. They harm all parties," said a spokesman for the committee. Until then, Brussels had said it hoped to avoid a trade conflict with Trump through negotiations. Later, the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, spoke by phone last night with the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau. "The two leaders underlined the importance of the bilateral relationship between the European Union and Canada, and confirmed their determination to continue working together," an EU official said. Since Trump's re-election in November, Brussels has been working to diversify trade partnerships, announcing in recent weeks a strengthened trade deal with Mexico and the resumption of talks on a free trade agreement with Malaysia. In 2018, during his first term, Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum exports to Europe – prompting the European Union to respond with higher tariffs. |
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