Senior Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping 20 percent tariffs on products imported from the EU.
The tariff measures, revealed on Wednesday by President Trump, were met with immediate condemnation from European lawmakers. Bernd Lange (S&D, DE), Chair of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee, voiced serious concerns:
“While President Trump may label this ‘Liberation Day’, for ordinary people it’s more like ‘Inflation Day’,” Lange said.
“These unjustified, illegal, and disproportionate tariffs risk triggering a full-blown trade war, sparking an economic downturn not only for the U.S., but for the global economy. American consumers, in particular, will bear the brunt of these measures, as prices rise and manufacturing becomes less efficient. The added uncertainty has also rattled investor confidence, with markets reacting accordingly.”
Lange added that the EU would not sit idly by in response to Washington’s actions:
“The EU will react through legal, legitimate, proportionate, and robust measures. We will evaluate which tools serve us best and will not retreat from our commitment to democratic legislation forged in the interests of EU citizens—even if that irritates certain American billionaires. Targeted nations must stand united and clearly urge the U.S. to abandon this reckless tariff escalation.”
“I sincerely hope the current U.S. administration is open to dialogue with the EU,” Lange continued. “Though I remain skeptical, we believe our firm stance might encourage negotiations. The EU’s doors are always open to finding a constructive resolution.”
Further reaction came from Iratxe García Pérez, leader of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group in the European Parliament:
“We deeply regret President Trump’s imposition of tariffs on EU goods. His reckless trade approach endangers millions of jobs and puts a strain on citizens’ purchasing power,” García Pérez said.
“The EU’s €26 billion countermeasures, announced two weeks ago, were an important first step, but additional action is needed. Trump is pushing the world into a trade war that brings not freedom, but economic peril—particularly for American workers and industries.”
“Our strength lies in being the world’s largest trading bloc,” she emphasized. “We must be prepared to deploy all instruments at our disposal, including the anti-coercion mechanism. And this retaliation should extend beyond goods to services. The United States may be our top trading partner, and we Socialists are committed to a negotiated solution. But the EU will not take these attacks lying down. We will respond decisively to protect our citizens and their livelihoods.”
Additional comments came from Brando Benifei, S&D coordinator of the Parliament’s International Trade Committee and head of the EU’s parliamentary delegation to the U.S.
“We need broad and strategic countermeasures that hit where it counts—not just tariffs on goods, but also action against services, including the big tech sector,” he said. “We should also explore retaliation in areas like intellectual property or exclude U.S. firms from EU public tenders where appropriate—to maximize pressure and stop this trade war.”
Eurotoday is a daily online news outlet based in Belgium. The publication delivers original and independent reporting on European and global affairs. With a distinctly Europe-focused lens, Eurotoday analyzes EU policy, political developments in key Member States, and major international trends affecting Europe.
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