Of Athena Papakosta

This is not the first time the president of the United States, Donald Trumpputs the European Union in the target of its ongoing trade war.

This time, the US president is threatening Brussels by imposing a 30% duty on European products since August 1st. It has already been threatened with a 20% duty on all European imports last April, but also in its next warning hit for even 50% on European imported products last May, when the Washington Marathon Marathon.

Last week, everyone was expecting to find out if the European Union and the United States would lead to an agreement. The deadline expired on July 9th. However, there was no progress and, therefore, no announcement. In addition to posting Donald Trump himself, who last Saturday released his letter to the president of the Commission, Ursula von der Layenthrough which it announced that the tariff rate which will apply from August 1 to imported European products will be set at 30%. At the same time, the US president warned the Union of “27” not to make countermeasures threatening that higher duties would be imposed.

The reaction of the Europeans, who hid neither their surprise nor their annoyance, as they were left with the impression that they were negotiating for a percentage of 10%.

The President of the European Commission has announced in mild tones that the European Union is ready to continue negotiations with the United States but – if needed – will take all necessary measures to protect its interests, including adopting additional measures.

For his part, however, the president of France, Emmanuel Macronhe emphasized that the EU should be ready for trade war by calling on the European Commission to speed up the preparation of credible countermeasures if no agreement is reached until the first day of August.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also appeared hard while Italy’s Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, who expressed her optimism to reach a fair agreement, at the same time inviting Brussels to stay in the past.

24 hours later, Ursula von der Laienne returned to the subject again. This time the EU was prolonging the… extension to impose countermeasures.

The president of the Commission stressed that Brussels would take advantage of the remaining period until August 1st to suspend retaliation against the United States, but “at the same time”, he made it clear that we would continue to prepare further countermeasures. “

Already, according to what had been leaked over the weekend, Europeans were preparing for the first, initial, counterpart of about 21 billion euros against Americans, which was scheduled to automatically implement at 12:01 tomorrow, Tuesday, July 15.

At the same time, the President of the European Commission has excluded-at least for the time being-to arm the “commercial bazooka” of Brussels, namely the “Anti-Coercion Instrument”, which aims at US banks and businesses, and today in Brussels. Steps of Europeans these three weeks until Donald Trump weighs if he will press his duties against Brussels. After all, Sunday, White House financial adviser Kevin Hasset left open the possibility of new agreements before August and the race continues.