Luxembourg (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Ahead of Monday’s discussions with EU counterparts, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck emphasised the European Union’s strong position in its trade dispute with the United States, provided the bloc responds cohesively.
On Monday, Luxembourg will hold the first EU-wide political meeting since Trump’s announcement of extensive tariffs. During this meeting, trade ministers from the 27 EU member states will discuss the implications and strategies for an appropriate response.
EU diplomats stated that the primary objective of the meeting was to present a unified message expressing a desire to negotiate with Washington regarding tariff removal, while also indicating readiness to implement countermeasures if negotiations did not succeed.
Will European unity force Trump to alter tariffs?
“The stock markets are already collapsing and the damage could become even greater. It is therefore important … to act clearly and decisively and prudently, which means realising that we are in a strong position. America is in a position of weakness,”
Habeck said in Luxembourg.
“If every country is counted individually, and we have a problem here with red wine and there with whisky and pistachios, then it will all come to nothing,”
He added.
What impact will the EU’s pressure have on Trump?
A few days ago, German economy minister Robert Habeck said that U.S. President Donald Trump will “buckle under pressure” and alter his tariff policies if Europe bands together.
“That is what I see, that Donald Trump will buckle under pressure, that he corrects his announcements under pressure, but the logical consequence is that he then also needs to feel the pressure,”
He said during a press conference.
“And this pressure now needs to be unfolded, from Germany, from Europe in the alliance with other countries, and then we will see who is the stronger one in this arm wrestle,”
Habeck added.
Permitting Trump to continue or attempting to placate him isn’t a viable strategy in any situation, he stated, emphasizing that the reaction should embody a “day of determination.”
