EU-Trump trade war will stoke the POPULIST FIRES in Europe, warns France

[yankeedoodle]

FRANCE’S economy minister has accused the United States of drawing the European Union into a tit-for-tat trade war as he attacked Donald Trump’s decision to slap tariffs on the bloc.

By ROMINA MCGUINNESS
PUBLISHED: 17:20, Thu, Jun 7, 2018 | UPDATED: 17:20, Thu, Jun 7, 2018



The country’s finance chief Bruno Le Maire said while the bloc did not want to enter into a trade war with Washington, it was determined to protect its “economic sovereignty”.

He added trade wars “fuel populism and isolationism” at a time when Europe has been shaken to its core by anti-establishment parties who “feed” on these disputes.

Mr Le Maire said: “By trying to weaken the bloc, the United States is encouraging the populist wave that is threatening Europe.”

And France’s finance chief called on the EU, which “cannot accept nor understand” the tariffs, to work with Washington to find a solution to the dispute.

He said: “Unilateralism leads us to nowhere but conflict… While we do not wish to enter into a merciless trade war, we cannot sit idly while the bloc is hit with unfair tariffs. The European Union is determined to affirm its economic sovereignty.

“And if the Americans wish to re-establish a dialogue with their allies, they must take the first step and demonstrate their willingness to cooperate by sending clear de-escalating signals.”

US President Donald Trump stirred trade chaos last week after his Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross confirmed that tariffs of 25 percent on steel imports and 10 percent on aluminium imports would be imposed on the EU, Canada and Mexico on “national security grounds”.

Brussels hit back saying the bloc would slap US imports with additional duties from July. The US products on the list include orange juice, cranberries, bourbon, Levi’s jeans, motorcycles and a variety of steel products.


French finance minister Bruno Le Maire has accused Donald Trump of a trade war with the EU


US President Donald Trump plans to impose trade tariffs on the EU, Canada and Mexico

Mr Le Maire said: “I have openly voiced my disapproval and concern about the decision taken by our ally, the United States, to increase duties on European steel and aluminium.

“The American authorities are hiding behind misleading national security arguments to protect their steel and aluminium industries. This decision is contrary to all international trade rules and contrary to the multilateral order we established together.

“This unjust and unjustified decision sets a highly damaging precedent. Because it only makes it harder for us to convince countries whose trade rules still diverge widely from ours to abide by the principles of international trade.

“With the introduction of these metal tariffs, the United States are drawing us into a trade war, which is in no one’s interest. There are only losers in trade wars, we all know that. And such an escalation of trade tensions is a threat to Europe’s economic recovery.”

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world...opulism-france

[MysteriousWays]

Yes, in fact that may be why Trump is doing it.

[Crn Volk]

[TheMaestro]

Time will come when Vladimirovič will take over Europe and make Europe great again.

[MysteriousWays]

Would much rather he be focusing on things besides these tariffs.

[Crn Volk]

Time will come when Vladimirovič will take over Europe and make Europe great again.

I don't think we wants to take over Europe. He just wants the Judeo-Americans kept at bay. Europe for Europeans!

[dperucca]

He is strategic. Rattling cages seems to be his go to tactic. It works.

[TheMaestro]

I don't think we wants to take over Europe. He just wants the Judeo-Americans kept at bay. Europe for Europeans!

True but in current European situation it would be good to have a powerfull leader, not like Merkel and Macron.

[KMack]

And nobody knows what country charges what taxes on various exports, lol.

[MysteriousWays]

Don't think Putin is really into taking over Europe, but is more trying to weaken opposition to himself around the world. I don't see him as an ideologue really, but he is quite pragmatic. I do think stronger leaders will emerge in Western Europe given pressures from both Trump and Putin as well as internal pressures, but exactly what form that takes, I do not know. And there is a pretty good amount of speculation that Putin is a philo-semite.