In the wake of U.S. President Trump’s comments on Wednesday that the European Union was created “to screw the United States” upon announcing tariffs of 25 percent on EU goods, European leaders have been responding.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk posted on X that “the opposite” was true. “The EU was not created to deceive anyone. Quite the opposite. It was created to maintain peace, build respect between our nations, create free and fair trade and strengthen our transatlantic friendship. It’s very simple,” the head of government wrote on the X platform.
Commenting that the EU is a “different case” than Canada, Trump said, “They have really taken advantage of us in a different way. They don’t accept our cars, they don’t accept essentially our farm products. They use all sorts of reasons why not. And we accept everything of them.”
According to the European Commission, as cited by Do Rzeczy, average EU tariffs on U.S. products are 0.9 percent, while U.S. tariffs on EU products are 1.4 percent. In the case of passenger cars, EU tariffs are higher (10 percent vs. 2.5 percent), but the United States applies higher rates to trucks and pick-ups.
According to Trump, America has a trade deficit with the EU of $300 billion, while Brussels claims the surplus is only $50 billion (including services).
The Polish Institute of International Affairs points out that the EU is the largest trading partner of the USA, with 2024’s bilateral trade in goods totaling almost $1 trillion.
Now voices are being raised warning against inviting a trade war and also on the importance of alternative friendships.
Last week, EU Trade Commissioner Marosz Szefczovicz visited the White House to express hope for avoiding a U.S.-EU trade war and proposed a mutual reduction in tariffs on cars. He noted “how massive the U.S.-EU partnership is” and that discussions focused on how to “move forward by fostering mutual benefits.”
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store has previously warned that the U.S. risks triggering a “devastating” trade war if it imposes import restrictions on European goods. French government spokeswoman Sophie Primas said that while Europe does not want a trade war with the U.S., it is ready to respond if Washington imposes import tariffs.
Despite being congratulated by leaders around Europe seeking to work closely with Germany on the economy and security, recent election winner Friedrich Merz (CDU) has made no public comments on Trump’s comments nor the chance of a trade war.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, however, pointedly spoke about the need for “trusted friends” as she arrived in India. “Touchdown in Delhi with my team of Commissioners. In an era of conflicts and intense competition, you need trusted friends. For Europe, India is such a friend and a strategic ally,” she posted on X, adding, “I’ll discuss with PM Narendra Modi how to take our strategic partnership to the next level.”
