EU Warns: Trump’s Tariff Threat Could 'Wipe Out' Transatlantic Trade
Brussels, Belgium — July 14, 2025
In a bold and sharply worded statement, the European Union has issued a stern warning to the United States: if former President Donald Trump follows through on his threats to impose sweeping new tariffs, it could "effectively wipe out" transatlantic trade.
Speaking at a press conference in Brussels, EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said, “Should the proposed 30% tariffs be enacted, the consequences would be devastating — not only for European exporters but also for American businesses and consumers.”
The warning comes in response to Trump’s renewed pledge to slap 30% tariffs on EU and Mexican imports if elected to a third term. In recent Truth Social posts and campaign rallies, Trump has argued that America has been taken advantage of on trade and must “fight fire with fire.”
Billions at Stake
According to European officials, trade between the EU and the U.S. reached $880 billion in 2024, supporting millions of jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. A tariff war, experts warn, could collapse that partnership and plunge both economies into uncertainty.
“This would not be a trade dispute. This would be a trade rupture,” said Dombrovskis, emphasizing that retaliatory tariffs would be "immediate and proportional."
American Companies Could Feel the Heat
While Trump's plan is aimed at reviving American manufacturing, critics warn it could backfire, driving up prices on cars, machinery, luxury goods, and even food items.
U.S.-based corporations with strong EU ties — such as Ford, Apple, Boeing, and GE — are said to be lobbying quietly behind the scenes to de-escalate tensions, fearing retaliatory tariffs on their European operations.
“Tariffs of this scale would hit supply chains, choke investment, and cost jobs — in Michigan, in Texas, in California,” said a trade expert at the Atlantic Council.
Biden Admin Caught in the Crossfire
While President Joe Biden has distanced himself from Trump’s trade rhetoric, the EU's message was clear: the entire American trade reputation is on the line, not just Trump’s.
One anonymous senior EU official put it bluntly: “The rest of the world doesn’t see MAGA and Biden as separate anymore. They see ‘America First’ as the new normal — and they’re preparing for it.”
Countdown to a Trade Showdown
With the 2026 midterms and 2028 election already influencing global diplomacy, the EU’s preemptive warning suggests a deep anxiety about what Trump’s return to power could mean for global economic stability.
If implemented, Trump's trade war could shatter decades of cooperation and realign economic alliances — perhaps pushing Europe closer to China and other emerging economies.
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