The explosive commercial policy of the US president, Donald Trumpis taking many European countries to prepare Antiarceles shields to deal with the levies of 20% (and this week reduced to 10% for 90 days) announced by the Republican for the imported goods of the European Union (EU).
In Spain, Pedro Sánchez He announced on April 3 his intention to mobilize 14.1 billion euros to protect companies and jobs from the tariff on the tariff. These are the measures that are considering other governments of the old continent:
Germanywho knows, does not have articulated any firewall in the face of Trump’s “aggressive tariff policies”, as Klaus Weyersss, of the Institute of Advanced Studies of Vienna. To the ravages of the tariffs announced from the White House, the “unpredictability“Of the President, which makes rapid and precise reactions to investors, industry and political estate. For now, the five main German institutes, plus the Austrian, have corrected downwards 2025 German GDP forecasts. After two years in recessionin the best case this year will be closed in tables or with a minimum growth of 0.1%, according to its updated forecasts.
While the business world and experts claim “concrete actions” to activate the first European economy, both its functions chancellor, the social democrat Olaf Scholzas the foreseeable successor, the conservative Friedrich MerzThey opt for the “consensual responses” on European scale.
There was an emergency meeting this past week at the Foreign Ministry between Scholz, Merz and the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), Lars Klingbilwhich according to German media will be the Minister of Finance and Vice Chancellor in the new German government coalition. But the meeting did not transcend information about national firewall hypothetical. It occurred coinciding with the first stock market collapses to what seemed like an imminent bleeding of tariffs. A couple of days later, Merz, Klingbeil and the leader of the Bavaria Social Cristian Union (CSU), Markus Söderthey announced ‘Fumata Bianca’ in the coalition pact that will take the conservative leader to the Foreign Ministry. There is a certain hurry to accelerate the transition, which will not be consummated until May 6 or 7, with the planned choice of Merz by Parliament (Bundestag).
Trump’s 90 -day pause favors that calendar. That the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenhe has responded with his own moratorium, too. Von der Leyen, in addition to compatriot, he is a member of the Cristianodemocrata Union (CDU)the party leading Merz. Communication between the two is “fluid and permanent,” according to party sources. The Puntal for the Fluid Exchange of Information with Brussels by Social Democrat is the president of the Commerce Commission of the European Parliament, Bernd Lange, omnipresent in the German media when it comes to talking about tariffs. “We will not be unpaid looking from the barrier,” says Lange, referring to the battery of measures and countermeasures reserved von der Leyen, including the so-called ‘anti-coercion instrument’. It is the instrument that, if necessary, would allow Europe to respond to an “economic aggression” from a third country, recalls Lange.
While the relay calendar in Trump’s power and breaks allow it, Merz can continue to argue that there will be no unilateral responses, but European consensus. Germany has been paid this time without reservations to Europeanism. After all, EU partners are the first market of their exports. The United States goes second. Trump’s tariffs, of executing, will carry a 15% drop in German exportsaccording to evaluations of the Minister in Finance Functions, Jörg Kukies. This social democratic politic Liberal party of Christian Lindnerlast November. Kukies amounted to Minister for a few months. Before that position he had been Secretary of State and the advisor to whom Scholz has trusted the preparations for any EU, G7 or G20 summit. It is the key piece, in case a firewall is required.
Emmanuel Macron It takes a breath again after Trump’s recent announcement to suspend tariffs on European products for 90 days. “It is a sign and an open door to the tradingbut this pause is still fragile, “said the French president in a statement released last Friday.
To the agony that already dragged the EU after the first ads of the American president, 90 more days of uncertainty. For Macron, this extension will weigh on “European businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Since the beginning of the commercial war, the Paris government has adopted a cautious posture when it comes to announcing shock measures. “France will respond through the European Union,” said the Executive. Even so, Macron has already taken a first step, urging French companies with “future or announced investments in recent weeks” suspend them as a form of Press the US economy.
The government has not stopped meeting with different sectors affected to evaluate the impact of these new measures, which could harm “to a greater or lesser extent to 28,000 French companies“. Some meetings that will culminate on May 13 with the celebration of a” strategic council “chaired by Macron, of which important conclusions about this commercial war are expected.
France is one of the European countries that most invoice with exports to the United States, near 47,000 million euroswhich represent a 1.5% of GDP. If the European Union fails to reach an agreement with Trump, key sectors such as the aviationhe vino o to cosmetic They will be seriously affected, with consequences both in the production as in him employment.
“Europe must continue working on all Contramedidas necessary and mobilize all tools available to protect yourself, also to prevent them from Flows from third countries disturb our market. France is prepared. Europe must also be, “insisted the head of state this Friday.
Although he has publicly been convinced that the best strategy for the commercial war promoted by Trump is to calm the spirits with the US, Giorgia Melonithe Italian prime minister has also talked about the possibility of implementing a kind of anti -bar shield – basically helping companies – to prevent that Italia I suffer an economic catastrophe.
Specifically, as the Italian press has leaked, the government would be studying the delivery of some 25,000 million euros in Aid to industries transalpines – proceeds of the postpandemic and cohesion funds Europeans – with the objective of avoiding greater damage for its economy, the most exposed in the EU to Trump’s measures (Italy’s exports to the country are the highest, according to various reports).
Neither Meloni nor his government have yet communicated him officially, but the president has met this week with the main industrial organization of the country, Confindustriaas well as with representatives of various affected sectors. And there the leader “has proposed to the productive sectors a pact to face common […]as well as work tables to identify the useful measures, “explained the presidency of the Italian government in a generic written note.
With this, Meloni’s position has raised incendiary criticism by the opposition. “Meloni arrived without being prepared for the tariff catastrophe, announced months ago and will hit our economy like a tsunami,” he complained Giuseppe ConteLeader of the 5 Star Movement and Squeeze Italian Minister.
Elly Schlein, head of the Democratic Party – the main progressive force of the country – has also spoken in similar terms. “It’s amazing how the government has stayed still, without doing anything. We knew this for months. But Meloni used the conditional until yesterday not to offend his friend Donald,” the progressive leader denounced.
The British government has now avoided implementing weight measures for (and 25% in cars, steel and aluminum) taxes by Trump. The prime minister, Keir Starmerhe threatened last week with intervene the economy to relieve pressure on the British industry, but decisions taken so far They have been far away of those of other countries around.
The highlight has been the announcement of Until 2035 – five more than expected – to give greater flexibility to the automobile sector, one of the most affected by tariffs. The sale of hybrid cars will be allowed until that date and Combustion engines They will be admitted Beyond 2030 For the luxury brandsincluding Aston Martin or McLaren, whose vehicles the government described as “iconic jewels” of the British industry.
Regarding the sector of steelParliament urgently approved a law to take control of the British Steel steel, owned by the Chinese group Jingye, something that will allow Maintain production of the only virgin steel factory that remains active in the country and guarantee the supply of a strategic material. The Owners of the company ensure that “It is no longer sustainable at the financial level”a situation that will worsen predictably after duty Trump. The new law gives powers to the government to order the purchase of raw materials and to pay the payrolls of its more than 2,700 workerswhile the option of nationalize the company Keep on the table.
The Minister of Finance, Rachel Reeveshe has ruled out to increase public debt to protect companies and insisted on the government’s will to stick to strict fiscal rules. The main priority at this time is to close a Commercial Agreement with the United States that allows to eliminate, or at least reduce, tariffs imposed by Trump, especially those that affect the steel and automobile industry.
Starr He has avoided now announcing retaliation measures to the encumbrances of the United States and has opted to maintain “The cold head”although he has insisted that all options are “Above the table”. The Ministry of Commerce has opened a consultation process With the business sector to study what American products could be subject to sanctionswhile continuing to work, in parallel, in, including the India and the European Union.
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