Key Points:
- France’s trade minister urged the EU to unite against new U.S. tariffs.
- President Trump announced a fresh 15% levy after losing a Supreme Court case.
- The EU might use its Anti-Coercion Instrument to target American tech companies.
- Europe already holds a suspended tariff package covering €90 billion in U.S. goods.
European Union leaders are preparing to strike back against a fresh wave of tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump. French trade minister Nicolas Forissier announced on Saturday that Europe possesses the exact tools it needs to defend its economy. He urged all member nations to stand together and respond to the new 15% levies with a unified voice.
Trump rolled out these new taxes just one day after the Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff program. The sudden move forced European officials to scramble, but they quickly made it clear they would not back down.
French officials acknowledge it is early, but they are already weighing heavy countermeasures. One major option is the “trade bazooka,” officially known as the Anti-Coercion Instrument. This powerful rule allows the European Union to slap export controls and service tariffs directly on American technology companies.
The anti-coercion rule also gives Europe the power to ban U.S. businesses from bidding on profitable government contracts. If leaders activate this tool, American firms could lose billions in European business deals.
Europe also keeps another weapon in its back pocket. The bloc currently holds a suspended package of retaliatory tariffs covering more than €90 billion worth of American goods. Leaders could unfreeze this package at any time to inflict immediate economic pain on U.S. exporters.
Forissier noted that Trump’s aggressive trade threats actually brought European nations closer together. However, he stressed that unity must now turn into action. He warned his colleagues that Europe can no longer afford to act naively on the global stage.
“We have to use our tools and not just speak about them,” Forissier stated. He firmly declared that Europe refuses to rely on the whims of foreign leaders, adding, “We don’t want to be some sort of hostage.”
