Madrid (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said that the European Union must remain united to respond to Donald Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on its products.
In an interview with Spanish radio station RNE, Cuerpo said that the European Union was open to trade and supportive of a globalised world market, adding that the EU should not be “naive” and defend its businesses and should make sure they were in a standing to compete in equal conditions with competitors from other countries.
What is the EU’s response to Trump’s tariff plans?
The European Union was very clear the day before when it declared it would retaliate against any tariffs U.S. President Donald Trump imposed on his recent announcements about tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China.
The EU said that if Trump goes ahead and applies tariffs to goods from Europe, it will definitely respond “firmly.” The European Commission representative stressed that tariffs create unnecessary economic disruption and hurt all parties concerned.
What are Trump’s justifications for the new tariffs?
President Donald Trump recently restated his plans for huge tariffs for major trading nations, most prominently against Canada, Mexico, and China. On 1 February 2025, he levied a 25% tax on imports received from Canada and Mexico, together with imposing a 10% tariff on imports sourced from China. Some will come into place on February 4, 2025: These tariffs focus on a great deal of exports except for other Canadian energy, which will be assessed at 10%.
Trump has cast these tariffs as being necessary to the resolution of issues related to such things as undocumented immigration and drug-running on the U.S.-Mexico border.
“The tariffs are part of his broader America First trade policy-correcting trade imbalances and protecting U.S. interests, Trump said.”
