China has denied any suggestion it's in active negotiations with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump over tariffs, saying any notion of progress in the matter is as groundless as “trying to catch the wind.”
While I do think the EU is lacking the balls to do this, there’s also some strategy to consider here. It certainly would be lovely if the EU would be more defensive, but also more damaging to the EU economy (at least in the short run, probably for a long time).
China is being painted as enemy number one, and there’s long-standing beef between the countries. Trump lost or is losing the trade war, and needs to make himself not look weak. Meanwhile China wants to project strength internally. Whatever is happening between closed doors, China has everything to gain from humiliating the US at this point. Trumps incompetence is already evident, they just need to fuel the flames.
With the EU, the situation is wildly different. EU doesn’t really want to project power, they want to project exactly as much power as is necessary not to seem weak but no more. It wants to show that it’s a level-headed free trade partner ready to take the lead in the free world, the fairest and most stable market in the world.
…that’s my take on it anyway. USE! USE! USE! USE! 🇪🇺
But it is really a wise decision not taking countermeasures and sweet-talking to a bully once he slaps you? What do you think this attitude signals to the said bully?
China has the luxury of being a totalitarian state. Xi does not need to worry about upcoming elections. Unfortunately in Europe any moves that requires great sacrifice might be political suicide.
For starters implement reciprocal tariffs. Which we only virtually did only to pause them to not anger the orange. Next, don’t visit the orange nor start talking with him. It’s like China says, he should start conversation.
I wish EU was capable of similar attitude as China instead of digging our hole by trying to appease the Orange liar in chief no matter what.
While I do think the EU is lacking the balls to do this, there’s also some strategy to consider here. It certainly would be lovely if the EU would be more defensive, but also more damaging to the EU economy (at least in the short run, probably for a long time).
China is being painted as enemy number one, and there’s long-standing beef between the countries. Trump lost or is losing the trade war, and needs to make himself not look weak. Meanwhile China wants to project strength internally. Whatever is happening between closed doors, China has everything to gain from humiliating the US at this point. Trumps incompetence is already evident, they just need to fuel the flames.
With the EU, the situation is wildly different. EU doesn’t really want to project power, they want to project exactly as much power as is necessary not to seem weak but no more. It wants to show that it’s a level-headed free trade partner ready to take the lead in the free world, the fairest and most stable market in the world.
…that’s my take on it anyway. USE! USE! USE! USE! 🇪🇺
But it is really a wise decision not taking countermeasures and sweet-talking to a bully once he slaps you? What do you think this attitude signals to the said bully?
China has the luxury of being a totalitarian state. Xi does not need to worry about upcoming elections. Unfortunately in Europe any moves that requires great sacrifice might be political suicide.
What exactly do you want the EU to do or not do?
Because I don’t see any country there trying to appease Trump. Except if you mean it as literally saying nice things, instead of doing something.
For starters implement reciprocal tariffs. Which we only virtually did only to pause them to not anger the orange. Next, don’t visit the orange nor start talking with him. It’s like China says, he should start conversation.
The EU are implementing reciprocal tariffs, aren’t they?
No. They paused the tariffs that were in response to the ongoing steel and aluminum tariffs when Trump lowered the “lib day” tariffs from 20% to 10%.
AFAIK not. They “wanted” to, but then paused them all together, while orange retained initial ones. 🤷♂️