President Trump's broad and new tariffs have caused consternation, threats of countermeasures, and calls for further negotiations to make trade rules fairer.
The European Union warned on Thursday that it is prepared to respond to the widespread tariffs announced by the United States but extended an olive branch to negotiate a way out. Before the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, from Uzbekistan, stated that the bloc of 27 is "prepared to respond," the French Government spokesperson, Sophie Primas, hinted at the possibility of "targeting digital services," a move that would directly impact US tech giants.
Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo, who describes the tariffs as "unfair and unjustified," advocates for a negotiated solution in this trade war initiated by US President Donald Trump but warned that "if there is no room for negotiation, we will have to respond." His statements precede the appearance of President Pedro Sánchez, scheduled for 12:00, to respond to Trump's tariffs before representatives of the most affected sectors such as automotive, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals.
Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that "I would not attempt retaliation" after initiating a trade war against the rest of the world.
The Spanish stock market opened with a 1.52% drop following the lead of the Asian markets that started with losses after President Trump's announcement of imposing a universal minimum tariff of 10% on imports, which will be higher for many countries, including those in the EU, with a 20% duty.
Japan Finds Trump's 25% Car Tariff "Extremely Lamentable"
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba described the 25% tariff imposed by the United States on cars as "extremely lamentable," despite Japan's significant contribution to the US economy.
Japanese companies have been the world's largest investors in the United States since 2019, especially automobile manufacturers, creating jobs for millions of Americans, said Ishiba.
Ishiba stated that Japan will continue to strongly urge the United States to reconsider its tariff measures and will negotiate directly with Trump when appropriate. "I will do so at the most appropriate time and method without hesitation," reports Ap.
Trump Will Yield to European Pressure, Says German Economy Minister
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said on Thursday that US President Donald Trump will yield to pressure from Germany and Europe in an escalation of the trade war.
"That's what I see, that Donald Trump yields under pressure, corrects his announcements under pressure, but the logical consequence is that he must also feel the pressure, and this pressure must now be exerted from Germany, from Europe," said Habeck at a press conference, reports Reuters.
US Tariffs "Endanger" 400 Million Spanish Wine Exports
The Spanish Wine Federation (FEV) has warned that the general 20% tariff on EU products could be a "significant blow" to Spanish wineries, for which this market represents approximately 13% of total foreign sales, reports Europa Press.
In 2024, according to the FEV, 97 million liters were exported for around 390 million euros.
According to FEV's general director, José Luis Benítez, this measure will harm Spanish and European wineries but also American consumers, who consume more wine than they produce, leading to economic uncertainty and price increases in the US and the EU.
EU Agricultural Sector Calls for Exhausting Diplomatic Channels
The Committee of Agricultural Organizations and Cooperatives (Copa-Cogeca) expressed concern on Thursday about the tariffs announced by the United States and urged the European Union (EU) and Washington to "exhaust diplomatic channels" before taking action.
European farmers and agricultural cooperatives warned in a statement that "the escalation of trade tensions between two key trading partners, with significant synergies in agri-food trade, will ultimately harm farmers on both sides of the Atlantic," according to Efe.
They emphasized that tariffs and "possible retaliations" will have "significant repercussions" on global trade flows, causing an increase in international product prices, a decrease in consumption, and an increase in costs and difficulties in supplying essential inputs for agricultural production.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday that the bloc is "prepared to respond" to the imposition of 20% tariffs by the US and is working on new measures in response.
"We are finalizing the first package of countermeasures in response to steel tariffs, and we are now preparing more measures to protect our interests and businesses if negotiations fail," said Von der Leyen.
Analyst: "The paradox is that the EU would be better off doing nothing"
Some analysts say there is little to gain from a total trade war, neither in the US nor in other countries.
"If Trump really imposes high tariffs, Europe will have to respond, but the paradox is that the EU would be better off doing nothing," said Matteo Villa, a senior analyst at the Italian Institute of International Political Studies, reports Ap.
"On the other hand, Trump seems to understand only the language of strength, and this indicates the need for a strong and immediate response," Villa pointed out. "Probably the hope in Brussels is that the response is strong enough to induce Trump to negotiate and, soon, to back down."
Australia Among Countries Questioning White House Calculations
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that the tariffs imposed by the United States on his country are completely unjustified, but Australia will not retaliate.
"President Trump referred to reciprocal tariffs. A reciprocal tariff would be zero, not 10%," Albanese commented. Washington and Canberra have a free trade agreement, and the US has a trade surplus of 2 dollars for every dollar with Australia. "This is not the act of a friend," he stated.
Trump mentioned that the US purchased 3 billion dollars of Australian beef last year, but Australia did not accept imports of US beef. Albanese explained that the ban on receiving raw US beef was due to biosecurity reasons.
The 29% tariff imposed on the small South Pacific island of Norfolk caused shock. This Australian territory has a population of approximately 2,000 people, and its economy revolves around tourism.
"As far as I know, we do not export anything to the United States," said Norfolk Island administrator George Plant to Ap on Thursday. "We do not charge tariffs on anything. I also cannot think of any non-tariff barrier that has been implemented, so we are puzzled."
Beijing Will "Take Countermeasures Decisively"
China's Ministry of Commerce stated that Beijing will "take countermeasures decisively to safeguard its own rights and interests," without specifying specific measures. The Chinese government has responded to previous rounds of tariff increases by imposing higher tariffs on US agricultural exports while limiting exports of strategically important minerals used in high-tech industries, such as electric vehicles.
"China urges the United States to immediately cancel its unilateral tariff measures and properly resolve differences with its trading partners through equitable dialogue," it declared, reports Ap.
Trump's Tariffs in International Headlines
"World tariff war," "Trump piles on tariffs," "Trump unleashes a whirlwind of tariffs"... These are some of the headlines with which the global press is covering Donald Trump's newly announced tariffs. Here are the front pages.
Spain: Sales of 36,800 euros at Stake
The tariffs announced by Donald Trump for all exports to the United States will have a significant impact on the Spanish economy, especially in sectors that have exported more to the United States, such as the automotive, pharmaceutical, and agri-food sectors, being the most affected.
Spain exports products to the United States worth 2.3% of its GDP annually, representing sales of over 36.8 billion to a destination that has focused on the growth strategy of Spanish companies in recent years, taking advantage of initiatives in fields such as green energy or infrastructure.