EU united in unease over possible Trump win, but few agree on future path

Former American leader’s vows to slap 10 per cent universal tariff and cease funding Ukraine war effort has sent shock waves across continent

China could be one area in which the US and EU could continue working together, owing to ‘common concerns’

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Former US President and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a political rally in Vandalia, Ohio, on Saturday. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

Published: 1:00pm, 20 Mar 2024Updated: 3:00pm, 20 Mar 2024

Lawmakers, officials, diplomats and businesspeople in Brussels are all nervously eyeing the prospect of Donald Trump returning to the White House, but they cannot agree on what to do about it.

The former president, who is neck and neck in recent polls with incumbent Joe Biden ahead of November’s election, has vowed to slap a 10 per cent universal tariff on all imports and a 60 per cent duty on Chinese shipments.

Trump has pledged to stop funding Ukraine in its war against Russia, and suggested he would not intervene if Russia invaded a Nato ally, sending shock waves through Europe.

For some influential voices, the rhetoric from the Trump camp means the European Union must prepare for economic warfare – using some of the arsenal it developed with China in mind.

“With Trump, there will be no respect of international rules any more, a 10 per cent tariff on everything, using trade as a weapon and so on,” said Bernd Lange, the head of the European Parliament’s trade committee, during a media briefing on Tuesday.

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