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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is counting on cooperation with U.S. President Donald Trump rather than confrontation amid his threats to impose tariffs against the European Union.
He said this in an interview with RND.
Scholz was asked whether the “punitive” tariffs imposed by Trump against other countries could provoke a trade war and, as a result, a global economic crisis.
“The global economy needs fewer trade barriers, not more. Globalization has created a significant level of prosperity worldwide,” Scholz said.
He noted that Germany, with its highly efficient export sector, benefits from this. In his opinion, this should remain the case.
“That is why I strive for us in the European Union to stick together and make it clear that the EU, with its 450 million inhabitants, is strong and capable of action,” the German chancellor emphasized.
When asked whether the EU would threaten Trump with retaliatory tariffs, Scholz stated that he relies on cooperation, not confrontation.
“Our hand is extended because tariffs benefit no one. If the U.S. still takes such steps, the European Commission will be able to respond within a few hours,” he concluded.
Last week, Trump stated that he would “absolutely” impose tariffs against the EU, citing Brussels’ actions against American tech companies and his large trade deficit in goods.
He did not provide details on when these measures would be implemented or whether the bloc could negotiate a delay, as Canada and Mexico did. EU trade ministers met on Tuesday in Warsaw to discuss his threats.
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, previously stressed that a potential “trade war” between the U.S. and Europe would be detrimental to both sides.
Following this, media reports suggested that the EU might retaliate against Silicon Valley with countermeasures through a mechanism that some in Brussels call the “bazooka.”
Meanwhile, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski dismissed Trump’s claim that trade with Europe is a “disgrace,” arguing that the U.S. has a “huge” positive trade balance in services with Europe.
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