All posts tagged: bazooka

This is what the EU’s trade bazooka was meant for – POLITICO

This is what the EU’s trade bazooka was meant for – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The fact of the matter is, if the EU sidesteps the ACI and genuflects, Trump will feel encouraged to be even more disrespectful toward Europe than he already is; the EU will lose all credibility as a moderate but forceful player in a world of autocrats; and European citizens will be even more disillusioned with European institutions unwilling to protect them and their dignity. It could also make them more likely to seek protection from nationalist parties and governments — those that may well be against triggering the ACI in the first place, devout as they are to Trump’s hostility toward the EU. Many in Europe are, indeed, adopting an attitude of subordinate acceptance when it comes to Trump’s wishes, either because of ideological affinities or because they feel more comfortable being close to those in power — as political theorist Etienne de La Boétie stated in the 16th century, servitude is generally based on the “voluntary” acceptance of domination. Then there are those who are ready to align with Trump invoking Realpolitik — a …

EU moves closer to using its trade bazooka against the US

EU moves closer to using its trade bazooka against the US

Published by Sam Flores

BRUSSELS — EU leaders have toughened their position and want the European Commission to ready its most powerful trade weapon against the U.S. if Donald Trump doesn’t walk back his Greenland threats. Germany has joined France in saying it will ask the Commission to explore unleashing the Anti-Coercion Instrument at the emergency EU leaders’ summit in Brussels on Thursday evening, according to five diplomats with knowledge of the situation. Berlin’s move brings the EU closer to a more forceful response, with Trump’s escalating rhetoric about the Danish territory and its supporters having prompted key capitals to harden their stance on how Europe should react. “The resolve has been there for a few days,” said one of the diplomats. “We have felt it in our bilateral talks … there is very broad support that the EU must prepare for all scenarios, and that also includes that all instruments are on the table.” What governments request of the Commission will be decided largely by what the U.S. president says in his address at the World Economic Forum …

Macron to urge EU to use trade ‘bazooka’ in response to Trump’s tariffs – POLITICO

Macron to urge EU to use trade ‘bazooka’ in response to Trump’s tariffs – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

On Saturday, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on European countries that oppose his plans to take control of Greenland. EU ambassadors are convening an emergency meeting later Sunday to respond to the tariff threat. Macron responded later Saturday by saying: “Tariff threats are unacceptable.” “No intimidation or threat will influence us,” Macron said in a post on X. “Europeans will respond in a united and coordinated manner … We will ensure that European sovereignty is upheld,” he added. According to a person close to Macron, the U.S. approach “raises the question” of how valid the trade deal Brussels reached with Washington last summer is. The European Parliament is already poised to take action by blocking the ratification of that EU-U.S. trade agreement — signed by Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last July. Conservative party chief Manfred Weber said on Saturday that it was “not possible at this stage” to approve the deal. Activating the EU’s Anti-Coercion Instrument would be a much bigger step as it would mean deploying a mechanism originally designed for unfriendly states against the …

Macron urges EU to deploy trade ‘bazooka’ against US as Trump ramps up tensions – POLITICO

Macron urges EU to deploy trade ‘bazooka’ against US as Trump ramps up tensions – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Macron “will be in contact all day with his European counterparts and will ask, in the name of France, for the activation of the Anti-Coercion Instrument,” his team said on Sunday ahead of an emergency meeting of EU ambassadors to discuss how to respond to Trump’s latest tariff announcement. Relations between Washington and Europe have been rocky for months as the U.S. president has wavered on support for Ukraine, pressured EU countries into accepting a lopsided trade deal and forced NATO allies to massively increase their spending on defense.  Even at the height of those tensions, EU leaders stopped short of hitting back — arguing that the risk of having the United States pull out of NATO was greater than any bad trade deal. But now, as Trump ramps up his claims on Greenland, sparking protests over the weekend in the streets of Nuuk and Copenhagen, European leaders are facing increasingly loud calls to drop their softly-softly approach and prepare for confrontation. The fact that Trump triggered his tariffs just after the EU signed a …