EU able to react to ‘unnecessary and stupid’ tariffs threatened by Trump, leaders say – Europe dwell

Spain’s former football chief Luis Rubiales went on trial in Madrid on Monday over the unsolicited kiss he planted on the World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso, a gesture that stunned millions of TV viewers and unleashed a backlash against sexism in sport.

“I knew I was being kissed by my boss and that should not happen in any social or work environment,” Hermoso said of the encounter seen live by millions around the world at the 2023 World Cup awards ceremony in Australia.

“As a woman I felt disrespected. It was a moment that stained one of the happiest days of my life,” added Hermoso, the all-time top scorer for the national women’s team.

“Until today it feels like my life has been on stand by” due to the case, she added, as reported by Reuters.

Rubiales is accused of sexual assault and then attempting to coerce Hermoso – with the help of three other men – into declaring that the kiss had been consensual.

Lisa O’Carroll

in Dublin

The Irish deputy prime minister has warned that Donald Trump poses “significant challenges” for Ireland and Europe if he imposes tariffs on goods imported to the US as he has done with Canada and Mexico.

Simon Harris said the EU must work with the US administration to avert a trade war.

“Ireland is at the centre of the European Union and any imposition of tariffs on the EU would create significant challenges,” he said. “Europe must and will work collectively and with the United States to avoid such a situation emerging and if necessary to mitigate any measures taken,” he said.

Ireland, which has a large pharma export sector courtesy of US multinationals, is one of three countries in the EU along with Germany and Italy that have a trade in goods surplus with the US. However it is in deficit in services.

Harris’s remarks come as Ireland braces itself for ill winds from the US, historically one of its closest trading and cultural allies on foot of historic emigration.

He will outline a Brexit-style plan to the Irish cabinet this week to guard against economic shocks facing Ireland.

First EU reactions to Trump’s tariff threats against the bloc – summary

Jakub Krupa

EU leaders have signalled that the bloc would be prepared to retaliate against the US if Donald Trump followed through on his threats to impose tariffs on European goods.

Speaking ahead of their informal meeting in Brussels, they repeatedly called for calm and stressed the value of EU-US cooperation, but indicated that they would not hide away from responding with tariffs if targeted first.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc was “listening carefully” to Trump’s comments and “preparing on our side” to respond if needed.

However, she stressed that “there are no winners in trade wars” and pointed out that China would be the only beneficiary of that scenario.

French president Emmanuel Macron said that if Europe is “attacked in terms of trade … [it] will have to stand up for itself and therefore react.”

Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said the EU should do all it can to avoid “totally unnecessary and stupid tariff wars,” adding it would be a “cruel paradox” if the bloc was forced into a trade war with a long-standing ally.

Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen, who is already embroiled in a separate crisis with Trump over the future of Greenland, said that while she would typically “never support fighting allies, if the US puts tough tariffs on Europe, we need a collective and robust response.”

Luxembourg’s prime minister Luc Frieden also said that “the answer to tariffs is to reply with [the] same action,” but insisted it should not overshadow today’s discussions on defence.

But some leaders struck a more conciliatory tone.

German chancellor Olaf Scholz said any tariffs would be “bad for the US and bad for Europe,” and stressed the need for cooperation to resolve this situation.

Finnish prime minister Petteri Orpo said: “We have to negotiate with Trump,” before adding: “I am not going to start a war, I want to start negotiations.”

Poland’s Tusk additionally spoke concerning the British a part of the summit, with UK prime minister Keir Starmer becoming a member of EU leaders for dinner, saying it was his initiative (Poland holds the EU’s rotating presidency till July) to ask him over to Brussels:

That is what he stated (in Polish):

I’m actually eager that, no matter Brexit and its penalties, to have the UK as shut as potential to the EU in the case of safety points, defence business, and to seek out methods to remove or scale back limitations in commerce between the UK and Europe.

Right now is the second to get as shut as potential once more.

French president Emmanuel Macron says bluntly that if Europe is focused on its commerce and business pursuits, it should make itself revered.

“If we are attacked in terms of trade, Europe – as a true power – will have to stand up for itself and therefore react,” he says.

His remarks are principally centered on larger European independence and strategic autonomy in defence, saying that the Russian aggression of Ukraine and the brand new Trump administration “push Europeans to be more united.”

German chancellor Olaf Scholz warns that any tariffs can be “bad for the US and bad for Europe,” and says that whereas the EU might reply with its personal insurance policies, he needs to discover a method ahead primarily based on cooperation between the 2 sides.

Considerably unusually, he additionally returns to the problem of migration and refugee legal guidelines, extensively mentioned within the Bundestag final week, straight attacking the CDU/CSU opposition in Germany for opposing EU legal guidelines on this space because of “party politics.”

Keep in mind, we’re three weeks out from the parliamentary election there.

Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk says the EU “has to do everything it can to avoid these totally unnecessary and stupid tariff wars or trade wars,” regardless of Trump’s feedback.

He says it will be a “cruel paradox” if the EU was examined in such a method by an in depth ally whereas on the identical time having to take care of “this direct Russian threat and Chinese expansion.”

He says the response to Trump may very well be the primary severe check of the EU’s unity on this, although he notes it comes “in a very strange context,” given the tariff menace comes from an ally.

Within the Polish a part of his briefing, he additionally warns towards “completely senseless conflict” over commerce, and repeatedly stresses his help for Denmark over Greenland.

Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen can also be requested about Trump’s tariffs.

She says:

I’ll by no means help combating allies, but when the US places robust tariffs on Europe, we want a collective and sturdy response.

Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen is subsequent up.

She rebukes newest feedback on Greenland very straight, saying it’s “not for sale.”

We’ve been very clear … that everyone has to respect the sovereignty of all of the nationwide states on this planet, and that Greenland is immediately part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and it’s not on the market. The chief of Greenland has been very clear they aren’t on the market.

She then says that she agrees with the US on the significance of Greenland for worldwide safety, however there are different methods of resolving this problem.

I completely agree with the People that … the Artic area is turning into an increasing number of vital … and it’s potential to discover a method to make sure a stronger footprint in Greenland. They’re already there, they usually can have extra prospects and we’re keen to scale up, and Nato is similar.

If that is about securing our a part of the world, we are able to discover a method ahead.

She additionally repeats her sturdy help for Ukraine as she says “I don’t think we should panic, but I think we are in a hurry” to strengthen European defence.

We have to change our mindsets, we want a way of urgency, and we have to be sure that our industries and political cooperation work in a smoother method.”

Finnish prime minister Petteri Orpo warns that “Russia will be, and it is, a permanent threat to European countries, and the EU.”

“This is not an opinion; it’s a fact. That’s why every single country in the EU needs to be ready to use more on defence,” he says.

Requested about his response to Trump, he says:

We’re ready. We’ve to barter with Trump. This is likely one of the most vital points immediately. I’m not going to start out a warfare, I wish to begin negotiations.