Trump declares a trade war, tariffs of 20% on the EU. Brussels, ‘we will be firm’

Brussels (ANSA) – The first message from Ursula von der Leyen arrived from distant Samarkand shortly after five in the morning. Europe, “disappointed by its oldest ally,” must prepare for “the impact that will be inevitable,” but has “everything it needs to weather the storm.”

Caught between the hammer of Donald Trump and the anvil of European capitals, the German leader is seeking a delicate balance: a first retaliation against Washington is already set for April 15, but the channels of dialogue will remain open to avoid fracturing the unity of the Twenty-Seven.

Among them, there are already those, like Emmanuel Macron, who have chosen the hard line: the American decision “is brutal and unfounded,” thundered the occupant of the Élysée, urging entrepreneurs to suspend investments overseas. In the response from Paris and Brussels, “no option is excluded,” was the assurance from the French president, awaiting Berlin’s new chancellor Friedrich Merz to lend support.

For a large group of governments, however – from Rome to Warsaw – the first path is that of diplomacy to avoid an escalation that “would harm everyone.” In the wake of Trump’s Liberation Day, Europe has begun to coalesce around the belief that an adequate response is now inevitable. “Negotiate, react, diversify” are the three tracks along which the team led by Ursula von der Leyen is moving in response to tariffs labeled as “illegal and unjustified.”

On April 9, countries will vote to initiate the first counter-tariffs starting April 15. The initial targets will be iconic American brands like Levis, Harley Davidson, and luxury yachts in response to U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum. The rest of the plan is ready to roll out from May 15: a list that targets Republican strongholds and a wide range of agri-food products.

However, the EU executive is also preparing the bazooka against Big Tech, with possible penalties coming from the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA), aimed at curbing the dominance of major U.S. companies on the continental territory (April 3).