EU under pressure: Commercial war with the United States is threatened with the economic crisis!

EU under pressure: Commercial war with the United States is threatened with the economic crisis!

Spanien, Europa - Today, on April 7, 2025, Greece's central bank chief Stournaras warned of the impending consequences of a possible drop in growth in the euro zone due to the current trade voltages with the USA. These developments are in the context of extensive debates on transatlantic relationships and the economic effects of new tariffs.

The situation escalates because US President Trump has announced tariffs from 20% to almost all goods from the European Union, while steel, aluminum and cars even have a 25% set. In response to this, Spain demands EU aids for the industries that are particularly affected by these tariffs. Economic Minister Carlos Cuerpo has already published a list of US products for which retaliation duties are sought. At the same time, the Spanish government announced a financial package of 14.1 billion euros to support affected companies.

reactions to the US tariffs

Taiwan's President Lai has meanwhile announced not to react to the US tariffs with counter-tariffs. Instead, Taiwan strives for bilateral "zero tölle" to secure competitiveness in the international market. This strategy could be seen as an attempt to stabilize the trade relationships and increase exports.

has called for the EU Industry Commissioner Sejourne that the EU reacts relatively to the US tariffs. In this context, he hopes for exceptions for Bourbon. The European Parliament is also concerned about the situation and on February 12, 2025, held a debate about the customs threats of the Trump government. Maroš Šefčovič, a member of the European Commission, criticized these tariffs as harmful to companies and consumers.

market reactions and economic data

The economic effects can already be felt: the Dax dropped 10% to 18,489 points, more than 2,000 points below the level on Friday. Similar trends show in Asia: the Nikkei index fell 6.5%, while the Shanghai exchange recorded 5.4%. In addition, German exports rose by 1.8% to 131.6 billion euros in February, with exports to the United States rising by 8.5% to 14.2 billion euros.

The British government reacts to the tense conditions by loosening CO2 requirements for the auto industry. This should offer local manufacturers more flexibility, although the sale of new cars with combustion engine remains inadmissible by 2030 and some models may be sold by 2035.

political dimensions and other demands

US fund manager Bill Ackman, meanwhile, warns against long-term reputation damage from the United States through the trade dispute and calls for a 90-day break for trading policy. Japan also demands a reduction in tariffs from the United States and is also planning measures to support its domestic companies. These demands are also reflected in the discussions of the European Parliament, where leading MPs emphasize a continuation of transatlantic cooperation.

The situation remains tense, and both European and Asian countries are required to deal with trade conflicts. The further developments will be crucial for the economic stability of the affected regions. For many companies and consumers, the upcoming trade policy could be a critical challenge.