Europe is ready to make its first bet for Trump’s tariff

President Trump announced last week that he will impose a 20 percent tariff on the goods coming from the European Union, which sent shock waves across the 27 countries, which is the last step in a commercial war that reveals the rupture of close partners.

This week, Europe will settle with its first counter – one of which is likely to come.

European Union officials have spent the past few weeks to improve the list of reprisals they plan to put on April 15. They offer foreign ministers and trade in Luxembourg on mondayAnd it is expected to vote on the list on Wednesday.

This customs tariff will come in response to the film and aluminum that Washington announced previously, and is expected to be sweeping; Initial menu Cover up everything From whiskey, motorcycles to boats and soybeans. But they will be just a start, an opening an opening in Europe’s response to Mr. Trump’s tariff.

European officials are working on additional plans to respond to Car tariff Which was announced in late March, and to Comprehensive definitions by 20 percent Mr. Trump announced last week.

European Union leaders return to stages for two reasons. First, they needed time to digest the wave of ads that came from the White House, in the hope of designing a response that would cause maximum pain on the United States while reducing the repercussions of consumers and European companies.

They also hope to give their response in their response, they will give the time of the Trump administration to come to the negotiating table. The ultimate goal is still a deal to avoid a comprehensive trade war.

Marus Sepkovic, a committee of trade in the bloc, wrote on social media on Friday night after describing it as “the European Union committed to meaningful negotiations, but he is also ready to defend our interests.” “Frank” meeting for two hours With his American counterparts.

With the high temperature of the commercial conflict, the risks are high. The European Union is one of the most important America Commercial partnerS. And the United States is largely the largest Export market For European commodities.

Looking at this close relationship, it is possible that access to the American customs tariff is a painful exercise, as it costs European companies and consumers as well, which leads to an increase in prices on known goods.

European officials realize that the escalating trade war can be painful on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. For this reason they edited the menus: officials wanted to observe comments from all over the continent.

It was initially supposed to take over part of the list that originally included a whiskey tariff to stick to March 31, however Delay For more improvement after Mr. Trump threatened to respond to it through Al -Safa A 200 percent tariff On all the next European alcohol to the United States. Such a move will be crushing French and Italian wine makers.

The delay came after the officials – including From France – He suggested that hitting the whiskey and provoking American revenge on alcohol would be a mistake.

This episode confirmed the challenge in preserving a fixed and united front in responding to the customs tariff. Countries all over the continent have different economic and different economic priorities to reach the United States.

Some countries in northern European countries were determined that the European Union should be strong in its response, but Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni has described the idea that Italy should choose between the United States and the bloc.Childish“She also has Vulnerable Harsh revenge.

European Union officials initially hoped to completely avoid commercial conflict.

They spent last and early fall this year Cross islands -Like the purchases of natural liquid natural gas-in front of their American counterparts, hoping to avoid confrontation.

But this strategy failed. Instead, Washington has taken more aggressive Tak than many analysts and officials expected. This has left European politicians racing to reach a plan.

It is worth noting that European leaders are considering accessing American service exports – specifically in major technology companies such as Google, which performs a large amount of European Union’s business.

Many European diplomats said that targeting technology companies is a clear possibility, if the trade war escalates, and a French official Make up In public notes last week, online services can be the first in Cross Hairs.

However, the real goal is a deal.

Elon Musk, Technology Businessman and Consultant Tribal Consultant, He said on Saturday He hopes that Europe and the United States will move “to a zero situation, which creates an effective free trade zone,” speaking during the appearance of a video conference with the far -right league party in Italy in Florence.

European officials Show To reduce the customs tariffs on cars and other products, so low duties in at least some sectors are a possibility, if the United States is ready to speak.

But the decision may take time. On Sunday, Scott Beesen, the Treasury Secretary, said during a televised interview that the issues that participated in commercial partners were not “some kind that you can negotiate in days or weeks.”