Thursday's EU pushback came after Trump told reporters that “the European Union was formed in order to screw the United States. That’s the purpose of it, and they’ve done a good job of it,” adding that it would stop immediately under his presidency.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, went on a counteroffensive.
“The EU wasn’t formed to screw anyone," Tusk said in an X post. "Quite the opposite. It was formed to maintain peace, to build respect among our nations, to create free and fair trade, and to strengthen our transatlantic friendship. As simple as that.”
The EU also warned that the moment the tariffs would be announced, it would trigger tough countermeasures on iconic U.S. industries like bourbon, jeans and motorcycles.
“The EU will react firmly and immediately against unjustified barriers to free and fair trade,” European Commission trade spokesman Olof Gill said in a statement. “We will also protect our consumers and businesses at every turn. They expect no less from us.”
Trump said in comments late Wednesday that the United States stood ready.
“We are the pot of gold. We’re the one that everybody wants. And they can retaliate. But it cannot be a successful retaliation, because we just go cold turkey. We don’t buy any more. And if that happens, we win.”
The EU estimates that the trade volume between both sides stands at about $1.5 trillion, representing around 30% of global trade. Trump has complained about a trade deficit, but while the bloc has a substantial export surplus in goods, the EU says that is partly offset by the U.S. surplus in the trade of services.
