The 27 EU member states voted on April 9 (local time) to adopt countermeasures of imposing a 25% tariff on US imports, which are respectively scheduled to take effect on April 15, May 15, and December 1. Subsequently, the United States announced on the same day that it would delay the imposition of "reciprocal tariffs" on most countries for 90 days. On April 10, the EU also pressed the "pause button" on its countermeasures.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated on the 10th that the EU agreed to suspend the countermeasures against US tariffs originally scheduled for April 15 for 90 days. However, she indicated that preparations for further countermeasures were still ongoing, and if negotiations were unsatisfactory, countermeasures would be taken.
Traditionally regarded as a U.S. ally, the EU has not escaped Trump's tariff war. In response to the frequent changes in U.S. tariff policies and the EU's related statements, Red Star News recently interviewed Jamie Shea, a senior scholar at the renowned European think tank "Friends of Europe" and former Deputy Assistant Secretary General of NATO responsible for emerging security challenges. He expressed that in the long run, the EU should move toward reducing dependence on the United States.
Trump breaking globalization will ultimately harm American consumers.
EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Photo by Visual China.
Shea pointed out that Trump and his advisors are discussing how to change the EU's VAT rules, a complex issue at the core of Europe's social tax system.
"If the U.S. wants to fundamentally change the EU and alter their economic model to gain better trade benefits, I don't think this can be done in three months," said Shea, adding, "In fact, I don't think the EU is prepared to do so."
Shea believes that the Trump administration is currently doing two things. First, it clearly aims to obtain what it considers fairer access for American goods through tariffs. However, Shea finds it strange that Trump did not take into account service trade, which accounts for a much larger share of the U.S. economy and many other international economies compared to manufacturing. Yet he focuses only on merchandise trade.
In response, many economists have raised objections, arguing that the U.S. does not need to become a major manufacturer to remain prosperous and successful.
Shea believes that another thing the Trump administration is trying to do is persuade or pressure domestic and foreign companies to relocate production to the U.S., reducing external dependence.
In Shea's view, this is also strange because it means breaking globalization and, in a sense, making the U.S. a fortress where everything must be self-sufficient, akin to the absolutely self-reliant methods of the 19th century. This would ultimately lead to significantly higher prices borne by American consumers.
To this, Shea thinks, "This is like an extreme form of isolationism," traceable back to the Monroe Doctrine concept proposed in 1823, when the U.S. indeed had the capital to exclude other countries. Today, it is difficult to replicate such exclusion. In fact, one can see a sense of nostalgia among Trump supporters, attempting to reverse history and return the U.S. to what they imagine as a golden age.
The EU should move toward reducing dependence on the U.S.
On the 11th (local time), finance ministers and central bank governors from EU countries reached a consensus, agreeing that the EU needs to maintain coordinated responses through both trade defense measures and diplomatic mediation.
April 10, 2025, Brussels, Belgium. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Photo by Visual China.
Meanwhile, the EU is also attempting to diversify trade relations to increase its negotiating leverage. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated on April 7 in Brussels that due to the impact of the U.S. Trump administration's tariff policies on international trade, the EU is seeking more trade with other parts of the world beyond the U.S.
In response, Shea believes that in the short term, if approved, the Southern Common Market trade agreement negotiated with Latin America will increase EU trade with Latin America. However, the agreement faces opposition from trade protectionists in France and has yet to be approved. Additionally, trade negotiations with Canada, India, and other countries also require breakthroughs, and efforts to reach a trade agreement with Australia are ongoing.
In the long run, Shea believes that the EU should consider no longer relying on the U.S. "The EU needs to move in this direction," he emphasized. Therefore, although there are difficulties in the short term, there are still many possibilities in the long run.
Special correspondent Wang Wei, reporting from Germany. Compiled from Xinhua News Agency.
Editor Yang Jin, Editor-in-Chief Feng Lingling.
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Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7492725751616356905/
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