Trump, A Threat To Europe: Laurent Saint-Martin Calls For Immediate Mobilization

Hardly installed in the Oval Office, Donald Trump is sowing discord. Between budget cuts, aid reductions, and new taxes, the whole world is holding its breath. Europe, in particular, views the return of punitive tariffs unfavorably. Laurent Saint-Martin, French Minister for Foreign Trade, sounded the alarm: the European Union must remain united, or it risks facing a historic setback against the protectionist desires of the American president.

Europe must stick together, warns Paris

For Minister Laurent Saint-Martin, who does not downplay the protectionist policy of the American president, it’s a moment of truth. At the Gulfood food fair in Dubai, he warned:

” If Europe is divided, it can lose a lot. ”

This is not a distant hypothesis but a very real threat. Trump has already struck hard by announcing 25% taxes on automobile and pharmaceutical imports.

Major German manufacturers like Volkswagen are already faltering under the weight of the crisis and job cuts. The automotive industry, which accounts for 7% of the EU’s GDP and employs 13 million people, faces another jolt.

In Brussels, calls for retaliation are multiplying. Maros Sefcovic, European Commissioner for Trade, warns: Europe will react ” firmly and quickly ” if Trump’s threats materialize.

The economy in Europe under pressure from Trump’s sanctions

The list of Donald Trump’s grievances against Europe is long. He accuses the EU of erecting trade barriers under the guise of regulations and VAT. His project? To impose equivalent taxes (or reciprocal tariffs) on European customs duties on American products. Steel and aluminum are the first targets, but automobiles and semiconductors are not left out.

In the face of this offensive, should Europe yield or counterattack? Reactions vary. Ursula von der Leyen calls for a measured response, without nostalgia for a bygone world. Emmanuel Macron, on the other hand, takes a firmer stance:

” If we are attacked, we must ensure our respect. “

The economic consequences could be severe:

• Automotive: 25% taxes, a threat to thousands of jobs;
• Pharmaceutical: impact on exports and drug prices;
• Steel and aluminum: return of trade barriers;
• Semiconductors: a fragile strategic sector;
• European growth: a predictable slowdown.

Christine Anderson, a German MEP, nevertheless praises Trump’s strategy:

” He shows us the way. Rather than lamenting, let us follow his example. ”

So, should Europe take inspiration from American protectionism or retaliate with its own weapons?

A trade crisis that could reshape Europe

Louis Duclos, a political analyst, sees this crisis as an opportunity: ” Europe progresses in crises; it’s now or never to emancipate ourselves“. According to him, Trump’s threats could be the necessary jolt for the EU to finally take its destiny into its own hands. Between Putin’s pressure in the East and Trump’s brutality in the West, Europe can no longer afford to merely dream of eternal peace.

But political will is also needed. Will it be able to overcome its internal divisions to impose a strong trade policy? Will Brussels be able to withstand American pressures? If Trump imposes his taxes, will the European response match up?

Thus, on one hand, Trump imposes his law and crushes his partners, while Elon Musk advocates a “MEGA” (Make Europe Great Again). Two diametrically opposed visions, even as several European countries struggle with debt. Will Europe be able to overcome this new challenge and carve its own path?