Donald Trump’s decision to slap tariffs on countries that have shown support for Greenland is pushing transatlantic relations to a breaking point as EU leaders contemplate ways of retaliating against Washington that until now have been unthinkable.
One option being floated by centrist and left-wing politicians is for Europe to wheel out its Anti-Coercion Instrument, the EU’s so-called trade “bazooka” — a powerful retaliation tool that was originally conceived to fend off bullying from China, which would allow Europe to impose tariffs and investment limits against offending nations.
French President Emmanuel Macron has joined those calling for the instrument to be deployed against the U.S.
In addition to @[email protected]’s and @[email protected]’s comments, the EU is a slow behemoth. It steers like an ocean liner, and apparently the slogan “The USA our friend and partner” has been ingrained for so long it’s almost impossible to get out of the rut. Seriously, sometimes it feels like these things take on a life of their own. I mean everybody basically agrees on this one issue, from communist to (neo)libertarian, yet here we are.