
Paris – The Franco-German Council of Economic Experts (CFAEE) released a statement on Tuesday outlining recommendations for the EU in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement on April 2 regarding a 10% increase in tariffs, with even steeper hikes in specific sectors, alongside “reciprocal tariffs” that could reach up to 20% for the EU, aimed at countries with trade surpluses with the United States.
On April 9, facing market concerns over the U.S. economy, President Trump declared a three-month pause on these tariffs.
In light of this “unilateral, aggressive, and erratic” American approach, as described by Xavier Jaravel, Deputy President of the Council of Economic Analysis (CAE), who also co-chairs the CFAEE, the EU must take a proactive stance in defending the international trading system, according to the statement.
If, after the moratorium ends in July, the “reciprocal” tariffs persist, the EU may need to implement “draconian” retaliatory measures to showcase its commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty, the statement warns. (May 13, 2025)













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