Scholz for American tariffs: This is “attack”

The new package of US President Donald Trump's punitive customs hits many countries significantly, affecting EU member states. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leeyen expressed critical tones. It spoke of a serious “shock for the global economy”. The tariffs will bring serious consequences to millions of people in the world, von der Leyen said during a visit to the town of Uzbekistan, Samarkand.

The EU is working on a new “x1> countermassy” to protect our interests and our companies if negotiations fail”, the Commission president said. At the same time, von der Leyen signalled its continued readiness to hold further talks with the American government. “has an alternative route,” said von der Leenen, who noted that EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic is “in continued contact with US counterpart Howard Lutnick. We'll try to reduce obstacles, not increase them. ”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has also criticised the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump as “that are totally wrong” and a “attack” on the global trade order. The US government is taking a road at the end of which there will be only losers”, the Chancellor said Thursday in Berlin. This is an attack on a trade order that has created prosperity across the globe. ”

“

EU Council President Antónnio Costaa called for expanding trade relations with other countries. Now is the time to ratify the planned new free trade agreements with the states of South America Mercërra and Mexico, Costa said in the margins of a high-level meeting with heads of Central Asian states and governments in Uzbekistan.

The chairman of the Trade Commission in the EU Parliament, Bernd Lange from the SPD, spoke at <x0timesthemen” for “armirites”, which is “totally unacceptable”. Reports are like “War flow”. Harms for the EU, according to him can be in billions of suspects. However, we are prepared and will respond with countermass, Lange said.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melon named American tariffs as the wrong “”. But she hopes in co-operation between the US and Europe to avoid a trade war, according to her, because it would weaken the West.

Manfred Weber, head of European People's Party (EPP) at the European Parliament, sees Europe willing to defend her interests in the US trade dispute. For our American friends, today is not a day of liberation, but one day of grief”, CSU politician wrote on the X platform. Donald Trump's tariffs damage both sides of the Atlantic. “Europe remains united, ready to defend its interests and open for fair and decisive talks. ”

The Effect on Germany

The president of Germany's Foreign Trade Chamber, Dirk Jandura, expects a lot of negative consequences for the German economy. I'll put it out loud: we'll feel this,” he told Reuters news agency. We're going to have to translate price rates, and in many cases that means falling into sales. For smaller companies that have already appeared weakened by the recent difficult years, this could also mean the end. This affects their employees too.

The president of the German Auto Industry Association (VDA), Hildegard Müller, described the US decision as a fundamental twist in trade policy. This is the U.S. exit from the global trade order based on rules, and therefore the departure from the basis for global value creation and proper growth and prosperity in many regions of the world. This is not the first America, this is just America”, Müller stressed.

The German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) also expressed regret over the US government's decision. “Now it's important that we all be involved to keep cool”, said the V Manager CI, Wolfgang Groà Entrup. “A spiral escalation would only increase damage. Our country should not be a hostage to a commercial war in escalation.” / DW/Periscopi/