Politico: EU wants to respond to US tariffs "from a position of strength"

Photo: Unsplash, April 7, MINSK . The European Union ( EU ) wants to respond to the 20% tariffs imposed by the US President Donald Trump administration from a position of strength, according to the European publication Politico, citing diplomats, as reported by TASS .

"All participants in the discussions believe that we don't necessarily have to respond immediately, but we definitely need to do so from a position of strength," a Politico source said. According to the publication's EU sources, Brussels "hates tariffs" and would like to avoid escalating trade relations with Washington, but most EU countries are convinced that "something needs to be done to get Trump's attention." "This is a classic case of dealing with a school bully – you have to punch him in the nose," the European diplomat believes.

According to the publication, the EU will prepare a response to the tariffs on European steel and aluminum imposed by the US President Donald Trump administration by April 9. "The EU appears poised to respond to Trump's previous round of steel and aluminum tariffs on Wednesday," the publication notes. Europe faces further discussions on a possible response, but, as Politico writes, "the bloc is overwhelmingly expected to vote on retaliatory measures this week."

According to the agency,REUTERS , On April 7, the European Commission will propose a list of American goods subject to additional duties in response to Washington's tariffs on EU steel and aluminum. it will include MEAT , grains, wine , timber, clothing, as well as vacuum cleaners, chewing gum, dental floss, toilet paper , and diamonds. The list could also include American bourbon, on which the European Commission intends to impose a 50% tariff, to which Trump has threatened a countermeasure—a 200% tariff on all European goods.ALCOHOL . If approved at the vote on Wednesday, April 9, some of the retaliatory measures will take effect on April 15, with the remainder following a month later.

On April 2, Trump announced the introduction of tariffs on imports from many countries, with the EU subject to a 20% rate. Washington's individual import tariffs on other countries will take effect on April 9 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time (7:01 a.m. Minsk time).