A fundamental false assumption is that these tariffs are permanent.
They are a tool to get the EU to move to fair trade and grow out the American manufacturing job base, incentivizing companies to establish long-term manufacturing in the US, rather than avoiding employing American workers.
Think more long-term and less short-term/sky is falling.
Europe needs us a lot more than we need them, and their stupid female figureheads are being forced to go through the process of learning that harsh reality. That’s all.
These are politicians who truly believe the retarded ideologies they learned in university in their political science classes.
They’ve never dealt with an assertive businessman before who holds more power than them. Businessmen in Europe have to bow and acquiesce to the EU and home regulations like a curtsying peasant before the Queen.
Culturally, the EU chics are used to being treated like royalty.
Trump is actually taking it easy on them. He could be really mean-spirited and rub their noses in their own excrement, but he’s just rattling their cages a bit.
You can tell who hasn’t studied his life and business experience though. He’s been saying the same things since the early 1980s at the latest. Most Americans even don’t put 2 & 2 together that he’s from Queens. They aren’t familiar with how cutthroat it is there, and how Trump was forged.
I am quite sure its a negotiating tactic , question is will it kill small business in the process, smaller businesses will not be able to ride it out for long. Was it designed as such so that Black Rock and co sweep up businesses and further consolidate the already overconsolidated industries?
Problem with tactics, outright lies are being spread in regards to 'unfair' trade practices , with that is that there is not much Unfair trade between US and EU tarrifs are practically non-existent in 1-3 percent range, Imaginary trump tarrifs on US goods do not exists they are trade deficit numbers.
There are special cases with huge tarrifs ,Like US tarrifs on EU light trucks, or EU tarrifs on US poultry both from 1960's . But its beyond even wishful thinking US cars other than Tesla selling in EU or Japan or many other countries, if there is no tariffs on them , products specifically designed for US market and unsellable outside US , tariff protections and cheap gas made US automakers domestic vs global players. Cars too big and too expensive to run when not combined with US gasoline prices
Farm produce with extensive use of GMOs can't be used for human consumption in EU , US farm produce is mostly GMO ,can only be used for some animal feed. Well animal feed hardly commands premium cost.
Chlorine-washed poultry on growth hormones and antibiotics , similar in beef , is again outright illegal for Human consumption in EU , there is not tariff that prevents sales. Its just product not up to specs. Unlike what Fox says much of US meat is usable only as fertiliser in EU , not even close to meeting standards required for Human consumption. ..... This is actualy what RFK ran on pushing US food industry to enact standards to levels at least somewhat safe for human consumption much closer to EU standards than what is legal in US right now.
So even as a negotiating tactic EU can't buy much else than Gas from US , no wonder all tarrifs except China are on Pause as there is not much substance behind much of the 'unfair trade' claims