Germany’s Habeck Urges Europe to Ramp Up Pressure on Trump Over Tariffs

The European Union is gearing up for a strategic response to new U.S. trade measures, which would impose a 20 percent tariff on EU goods under Donald Trump’s proposed policy. German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck revealed that the EU is preparing a detailed list of countermeasures, comprising a variety of American products. “We’re not just slapping tariffs on almonds,” Habeck said, referring to the broad and calculated scope of the EU’s draft response. “We’re taking this step-by-step, product by product.”

However, Habeck emphasized that the EU’s strategy goes well beyond simple retaliation. He described the challenge as a defining moment in global trade, and a chance for Europe to forge new partnerships. “What we need now is an alliance with Canada and Mexico,” he said, reporting on recent informal discussions held with leaders from both countries during Hannover Messe, one of the world’s largest industrial technology trade fairs. “When you talk to them, you realize we share the same concerns and perspectives.”

Pointing to broader shifts in the global trade landscape, Habeck cited an unusual joint statement from China, Japan, and South Korea, in which the trio pledged to coordinate their responses to U.S. tariffs — a rare show of unity among traditionally rival states. “They don’t always see eye to eye,” he said, “but this time, they’re coming together to stop this reckless economic path.”

Habeck also delivered a sharp critique of the logic behind Trump’s tariff approach. “The basic argument is flawed,” he said. “The U.S. has been one of globalization’s biggest winners. If those gains haven’t been shared fairly at home, that’s a domestic issue — not the fault of international partners. Pointing fingers is both misleading and dangerous.”

He warned that such protectionist policies could reverberate far beyond U.S. borders, potentially triggering global recessions. According to projections from German economists, the U.S. could see a 1.9 percent drop in economic growth if the tariffs are maintained.

“This isn’t just a European issue,” Habeck said. “This is a moment to defend the principles of fair, rules-based global trade. And we must rise to meet it — together — with unity, pragmatism, and pressure.”