“We should be tearing down barriers, not building walls,” said Rasmussen, emphasizing a united European front. “Europe will respond with strength—and in a measured and appropriate way.”
Norwegian Trade Minister Cecilie Myrseth expressed deep concern over former President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 15 percent tariff on Norwegian goods. Although Norway is not a member of the EU, Myrseth warned that the country’s economy could face significant repercussions.
“This is a serious situation, and we need to assess the full implications for Norway,” she told Norwegian broadcaster NRK. She noted that because Norway exports heavily to the EU, the tariffs targeting the bloc would also have knock-on effects for Oslo. “We’re closely tied to the European market. This will absolutely impact us.”
Switzerland, another non-EU country with strong trade ties to the union, called for adherence to “international law and free trade” following the U.S. decision to slap a 31 percent tariff on Swiss products.
“Switzerland will quickly assess our next course of action,” said President Karin Keller-Sutter in a statement.
Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee, blank”>condemned the U.S. tariffs as “unjustified, illegal, and disproportionate.” Jörgen Warborn, the European People’s Party’s spokesperson on international trade, voiced frustration with Washington, tweeting: blank”>“It’s hard to stay calm when a friend behaves like a bully.”
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