Brussels is developing a two-step trade strategy to deal with Donald Trump, offering the Republican a quick deal if he wins a second term as president, and targeted retaliation if he opts for punitive tariffs instead.
EU officials see the carrot-and-stick approach as the best response to Trump’s pledge to impose a 10 per cent minimum tariff, which they estimate could reduce EU exports by around €150bn annually.
Negotiators are planning to approach the Trump team, if he wins the election in November, before he takes office to discuss which US products the EU could buy in bigger quantities.
Should talks over improving trade fail and Trump applies higher tariffs, the European Commission’s trade department is drawing up lists of imports it could hit with duties of 50 per cent or more.
Here are the top political news stories for today.
@eXecutiveStorkDemocrat2yrs2Y
Russia is no longer thought as the second most powerful military. It's hollowed out and being degraded every week. In this respect, Europe probably does have greater stockpiles of modern weaponry. So, the starting pistol would still see Europe ahead of Russia.
But, the USA does have the greatest and best equipped military. We do want the USA.
Weird Donald isn't going to win.
@StressedS0v3reignGreen2yrs2Y
Considering that Russia's various vehicle stockpiles are down between 70% and 90% since the start of the war, I don't think Russia will be able to wage any significant war in the next decade or so.
You are missing the key point: it is not a zero sum game unless you make it so. Europe and the US are not enemies, in fact we are natural allies. Don't blow that for short term domestic political gain.
@LobbyEmilyDemocrat2yrs2Y
Strange then that the "natural allies" are placing tariffs on American goods and running a protectionist racket to prevent them reaching consumers.
@Xemplary1976Republican2yrs2Y
This bombast won't change the fact that Europe needs the US more than the US needs Europe. Americans don't care about Europe as much as the Europeans care about the US.
The US has bailed Europe out in 2 wars and without the US, Russia would have defeated Ukraine and can defeat Europe as a whole easily!
I prefer Trump to the satanic Democrat death cult any day of the year ... but his trade policies are just stupid. The last thing we need is more trade wars and increased prices on steel and other goods with the economy the way it is.
@TealPeytonLibertarian2yrs2Y
The best plan for Europe is to understand that the world is changing very quickly.
Multi-polarity is there, and will only become stronger.
That creates enormous opportunities for those able to see that there is more to the world than only the 20th century transatlantic relationships.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
Loading the political themes of users that engaged with this discussion
Loading data...
Join in on more popular conversations.
