Rupert Wingfield-Hayes
Appearances
Global News Podcast
Trump threatens to escalate trade war with China
It feels to me like there is a high degree of frustration amongst EU leaders on what's going on. First of all, the imposition of these very high tariffs, which they feel are completely unjustified and unfair. Certainly, if you listen to the German economy minister, he called them completely illogical, nonsense, he described them as.
Global News Podcast
Trump threatens to escalate trade war with China
Also, there seems to be a growing degree of frustration about the unwillingness of the US government to engage with the EU.
Global News Podcast
Trump threatens to escalate trade war with China
We heard from Ursula von der Leyen today, the EU Commission president, who said that they had offered what she called zero for zero tariffs on all industrial products and motor vehicles before the announcement last week, but clearly had had no response from Washington on that. The tariffs had gone ahead.
Global News Podcast
Trump threatens to escalate trade war with China
And then again, with this meeting in Luxembourg today, coming out of it, the EU trade commissioner saying that they have decided on a list of products that they are going to vote on on Wednesday, possibly to implement tariffs on. But that is not their first choice. And it's very clear. Everybody is saying this is not the first choice. We want to sit down and negotiate.
Global News Podcast
Trump threatens to escalate trade war with China
We want to find a way through this. But it appears they are not getting any response from Washington.
Global News Podcast
Trump threatens to escalate trade war with China
Well, I think we'll have to wait and see what the list is, I mean, it's always a protracted negotiation when you have so many different countries with different priorities. And there was a warning, you know, today also implicit from Ursula von der Leyen and from other EU ministers, particularly from the German economy minister, saying it's important for us to remain united.
Global News Podcast
Trump threatens to escalate trade war with China
Do not step out of line. Do not try and do a separate deal by yourself with Washington. The EU is strong. We are in a strong position as long as we remain united. And that gives you another indication that perhaps there are some countries in the EU that are not as willing to go along.
Global News Podcast
Trump threatens to escalate trade war with China
People have pointed to Italy, for example, as maybe not wanting to go along with tougher measures against the United States. So, yes, building a coalition in the EU is always a complex task. matter. But apparently they have come up with a list. They are going to distribute it to member governments later today and that that will then go back and be voted on on Wednesday.
Global News Podcast
Trump threatens to escalate trade war with China
And if negotiations are not forthcoming, they will start to go into effect on the 15th of April and go into full effect, we understand, 30 days later.