During dinner, De Wever and his colleagues reviewed the status of ongoing trade discussions with Washington, noting that the deadline is approaching as the pause announced by President Donald Trump ends on July 9. High tariffs of at least 20 percent on European imports could soon take effect.
De Wever remains hopeful that a negotiated solution can be reached by the European Commission to prevent what he refers to as a “foolish” trade war. He expressed concerns about potential escalation, stating, “Resorting to extreme countermeasures is simply unwise. It’s crucial that we remain calm and avoid such actions.”
Should the U.S. impose “unilateral” and “unreasonable” tariffs, the Belgian Prime Minister believes the EU must respond with “proportionate” and “reasonable” countermeasures, steering clear of actions that could escalate tensions further. The Commission has prepared tariffs targeting approximately 115 billion euros of American imports, which are currently on hold pending the outcome of negotiations.
There is hope that Trump will adopt a more favorable stance following a successful NATO summit in The Hague and refrain from initiating a trade war with allies. “One might speculate about his mood, but it’s impossible to predict how the American president will act or what declarations he will make, which can be quite exhausting,” De Wever commented.
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