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THE European Union has sharply criticised US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a new 20% tariff on goods from the EU, which was unveiled late on Wednesday as part of his ongoing push to impose reciprocal tariffs on countries across the globe.
The head of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee, Bernd Lange, denounced the move, labelling it as "unjustified, illegal, and disproportionate."
"While President Trump might call today 'Liberation Day,' from an ordinary citizen's point of view, this is 'Inflation Day,'" Lange said in a statement, voicing his concern that these measures would exacerbate inflation.
Lange warned that the new tariffs would only lead to a further escalation in trade tensions, potentially triggering a damaging economic downturn for both the US and the wider world.
“These unjustified, illegal, and disproportionate measures can only lead to further tariff escalation and a downward economic spiral for the US and the world as a whole,” Bernama- Anadolu cited hims saying today.
The European official stressed that the ultimate burden of the new tariff would fall on US consumers, who would face higher prices, while US manufacturing efficiency could also be undermined.
Lange also pointed to the impact on global markets and investor confidence, referencing the volatility that stock markets have already experienced following the announcement.
In response to the new tariff, Lange vowed that the EU would take "legal, legitimate, proportionate, and decisive measures," underlining the bloc’s commitment to defending its economic sovereignty and democratic decision-making.
"We are not backing down," he said.
"The countries that have been targeted by these measures must respond with a united front and send a clear message to the US to end this tariff madness."
Despite his strong condemnation, Lange expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue, hoping that the US administration might reconsider and return to the negotiating table.
“I do hope this administration is genuinely interested in engaging with the EU, but I am not confident,” he remarked. "The EU’s door will always remain open to finding a solution."
Australia Slams US Tariffs as ‘Not an Act of a Friend’
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also voiced his disapproval of the US tariffs, describing Trump’s decision to impose a 10% tariff on Australian goods as "not the act of a friend."
However, Albanese ruled out imposing reciprocal tariffs on the US, citing the potential harm to Australian households.
Reuters reported that in comments outside the White House, Trump explained the rationale behind the tariffs, specifically targeting Australian beef, which has seen a surge in exports to the US, reaching A$4 billion amid a downturn in US beef production.
"They won’t take any of our beef. They don’t want it because they don’t want it to affect their farmers and you know, I don’t blame them but we’re doing the same thing right now," Trump said during a Rose Garden announcement.
Albanese criticised the tariffs, noting that they lacked logical justification and contradicted the longstanding partnership between the two nations.
"The (Trump) administration's tariffs have no basis in logic and they go against the basis of our two nations' partnership. This is not the act of a friend," Albanese told reporters.
In response to the tariffs, Albanese confirmed that Australia would not retaliate by imposing similar duties on US goods.
"We will not join a race to the bottom that leads to higher prices and slower growth," he said, underlining his government’s desire to avoid an escalation that would hurt consumers.
Albanese also noted that countries in the Indo-Pacific region would bear the brunt of the US tariffs, with implications for strategic competition in the region.
"There’s no doubt that the response on a range of issues, be it action on climate change as well as trade issues, will affect the strategic competition that's here in the region," he said, hinting at the potential for China to gain an advantage in the current trade environment. - April 3, 2025
