In response to the decision of US President Donald Trump to install 20% unjustified, illegal, and disproportionate tariffs on EU exports, the S&Ds urge the European Commission to take legal, legitimate, and decisive action to maximise pressure on the US and defend European interests.
It must be clear: we will not water down our legislation to satisfy Trump’s demands and are ready to do what it takes to defend our workers and businesses. We have to be prepared to lay all necessary tools on the table, from the anti-coercion instrument to targeting US digital services and incentives to attract American companies.
Iratxe García Pérez, S&D Group leader, said:
“We deeply regret Trump’s announcement of new tariffs on EU products. Millions of jobs and citizens’ purchasing power are at risk because of Trump’s reckless tariffs. The EU’s €26 billion response to Trump’s tariffs, announced two weeks ago, is a strong step, but others should follow. Trump is fuelling a trade war that will not bring liberation; on the contrary, it will bring disaster for American workers and the economy. Our citizens and businesses shouldn’t worry, as we won’t follow him down that road.
“Our strength lies in being the world’s largest trading bloc, and we should be ready to use our full power, including the anti-coercion instrument, not only on products but also services. Let’s not forget that, above all, the United States is our largest trade partner, and we Socialists want a negotiated solution. But, what Trump can’t anticipate is that the EU won’t respond to his attacks. Our citizens and their jobs come first, and that’s why the EU should respond with determination, speed, proportionality, and unity.”
Brando Benifei, S&D coordinator in the international trade committee and chair of the European Parliament’s delegation to the US, stated:
“We need broad countermeasures that hit where it really hurts—not just on goods, but also targeting services, such as big tech firms, as well as considering the possible retaliation on intellectual property rights or excluding US companies from public procurement contracts—to maximise pressure and bring this trade war to an end.
“The EU should also think outside the box and outsmart Trump’s logic. We need an ambitious, attractive package that encourages US companies and citizens to come and do more business in, and move to, the EU—a major, stable, rich, social and sustainable single market.”
Bernd Lange, S&D MEP, chair of the European Parliament’s international trade committee and standing rapporteur on US trade and investment relations, added:
“While President Trump might coin today as ‘Liberation Day’, seen from an ordinary citizen’s perspective, this is rather ‘Inflation Day’. The EU will respond to these unjustified, illegal and disproportionate tariffs.
“We are not backing down: we will defend our sovereignty and we will not change, for example, our digital legislation that we have shaped democratically and in the interest of EU citizens, even if this displeases some US billionaires. The EU has a broad toolbox at its disposal and we are ready to use it. It might be the only way to get the US to the negotiation table to stop this tariff madness.”