A sizable majority of Europeans would back retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. over new levies on goods produced in the EU.
More than two thirds of those polled in Germany, Europe’s economic powerhouse, are in favor of countering America’s actions in the brewing trade war. The mood is similar, if not worse, in several other major economies on the Old Continent where an even larger share of people would like to see an appropriate response. Italians are the least belligerent in that context but over half of them would still support European countermeasures.
Western Europe favors retaliating to Trump’s tariffs
Most citizens of seven countries in Western Europe, EU member states and Britain, are largely supportive of retaliating against U.S. tariffs on the products they are making. The finding came ahead of an expected announcement, part of President Donald Trump’s policy of imposing “reciprocal tariffs” on nations that America has trade deficits with.
At 79%, Danes are the most eager backers of adopting countermeasures, according to the Yougov Eurotrack survey conducted in March. Swedes are second with 73% of them declaring support for potential EU response.
Exactly 70% of the respondents in Spain are in favor of Europe slapping higher tariffs on U.S. goods. Italians are least supportive with a total of 45% either unsure about or opposing a European retaliation, reflecting Italian Prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s recent call to avoid impulsive moves.
France and Germany, Europe’s leading political powers, are ranking in the middle, both with 68% of their citizens hoping for an adequate EU reaction. In the United Kingdom, no longer a member of the European Union, 71% support retaliatory tariffs.
EU nations and the U.K. brace for tariff impact on their economies
Between 60 and 76% of those polled in EU countries expect U.S. tariffs to seriously affect the European Union’s economy, with people in Germany, France, Italy, and Spain being the most worried about the potential effects for the EU as a whole.
Germans fear their national economy will be hit the hardest, given the large size of its automotive industry set to suffer the most under Trump’s 25% tax on imported cars. Some 75% of the participants in the poll there believe they are going to see a significant impact.
YouGov noted that the majority of Brits (60%) also anticipate a substantial impact on business in the U.K., while respondents in Denmark are the least likely to feel this way. Still, every second Dane is uneasy about the prospects for the Danish economy.
Europeans disagree with Trump’s reasons for ‘Liberation Day’
Commenting on his plans for broad-based “reciprocal tariffs” in February, the U.S. president accused the European Union of being “very unfair to us” in terms of trade relations. He and members of his administration have been referring to April 2 as “Liberation Day.”
The poll suggests, however, that Europeans largely disagree with Washington’s reading of the current state of affairs, with 40% (in Italy) to 67% (in Denmark) opposing Trump’s claims. Only between 7% and 18% of the EU respondents think he has good reasons.
Britons are displaying similar attitudes – over half of them, or 55% of the surveyed, are convinced that the United Kingdom has been fair enough in its trade dealings with the United States. Only around 6% tend to agree with Donald Trump’s remarks.
After imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, the U.S. head of state unveiled last Wednesday a 25% tariff on “all cars that are not made in the United States,” which should take effect alongside the reciprocal tariffs expected this week.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, indicated on Thursday it’s going to wait for the April 2 announcement from Washington before countering. Quoted by Euronews, its spokesperson for economic security, Olof Gill, stated that if necessary, Brussels will deliver a “well calibrated” response.
“Our objective is a negotiated solution. But of course, if need be, we will protect our interests, our people and our companies,” the Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen said in a speech to the European Parliament, insisting the EU has a “strong plan to retaliate” while emphasizing the confrontation is “in no one’s interest.”