Post Reply - trade war

https://nltimes.nl/2025/04/09/european-union-member-states-agree-counter-tariffs-us-products  or https://nltimes.nl/2025/04/09/european-union-member-states-agree-counter-tariffs-us-products ;

European Union member states agree to counter-tariffs on U.S. products
This article will be updated.
The European Union member states have agreed on import tariffs for a list of American products, the European Commission has reported. This is in response to the 25 percent import tax on steel and aluminum that the U.S. implemented last month.
The tariffs vary from 10 to 25 percent and apply to thousands of products, including motorbikes, soja beans, and beauty products. American whiskey was on the list originally, but this was then taken off the list due to fears for severe counter tariffs on European alcohol.
The first import tariffs come into effect from April 15. “These countermeasures can be suspended at any time, should the U.S. agree to a fair and balanced negotiated outcome,” a statement from the European Commission read.
If the U.S. does not respond, then most of the import tariffs will come into effect midway through May. The tariffs on all the products on the list will be implemented from December. Altogether, the tariffs are good for a fee of 21 billion euros, European Union sources have said.
The European Union has not taken any countermeasures against American import tariffs on cars or the general import tariffs of 20 percent. The European Commission is expected to present a proposition about this at the beginning of next week, which the member states will vote on.
The Commission continues to emphasize the willingness to negotiate with the U.S. and that the import tariffs are in “nobody’s best interest.
DJ, https://eenvandaag.avrotros.nl/panels/opiniepanel/alle-uitslagen/item/grote-groep-kijkt-negatiever-naar-amerikaanse-producten-in-supermarkt-en-wil-stevige-reactie-op-importheffingen-niet-zomaar-ja-en-amen-zeggen/ A Dutch link to an opinion poll;

In that poll 51% of the audience wants (supports) EU tariffs on US imports, 28% against it, 21% "neutral/do not know"...Also the DK/Danish idea of supermarkets making clear where the products come from is supported-so people can boycott Us (or israel/other) goods..

DJ-Very likely trump will now react by increasing tariffs on the EU...making the trade war/relations even worse...

BRICS+ will be watching for oppertunities to increase trade with Europe. From Algeria/Nigeria energy to Egyptian vegetables, Latin American products...China, India also may show a willingness to increase trade...(in part via railways that already link via TIP the EU with India/China (Türkiye-Iran-Pakistan=TIP landbridge). 

DJ...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Gibraltar_crossing or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Gibraltar_crossing ;
The Strait of Gibraltar crossing is a hypothetical bridge or tunnel spanning the Strait of Gibraltar (about 14 km or 9 miles at its narrowest point) that would connect Europe and Africa. The governments of Spain and Morocco appointed a joint committee^[1] to investigate the feasibility of linking the two continents in 1979, which resulted in the much broader Euromed Transport project.^[2]
In January 2021, it was reported that the United Kingdom and Morocco would discuss building the crossing between Gibraltar and Tangiers.^[3] As of 2023, the completion of Morocco's first national high-speed rail line from Casablanca to Tangiers has led to renewed interest in a tunnel that would connect the line to Spain's own high-speed network, which uses the same gauge and electrification as the northern section of Morocco's Casablanca-Tangier high-speed line.^[4]

DJ, Better (rail)road connections with Africa, better shipping routes (boats on a.o. the Nile also able to reach European/Asian destinations) could revive "EurAsAf-trade" (EURope-ASia-AFrica). 

Again...the US is in an isolated position-getting more isolated by the day...

Elections will see politicians more critical of the US/trumpf getting more support...