European Union Threatens to Freeze Agreements with US in Response to Donald Trump's New Tariffs

Relations between Brussels and Washington have deteriorated sharply following the announcement by Donald Trump's administration of a new tariff strategy. This decision followed a US Supreme Court ruling that deemed previous tariffs unlawful. In response, the US president announced the introduction of a temporary, 10-percent import surcharge, set to take effect on February 24. Although Trump publicly suggested raising the rate to 15 percent, the temporary surcharge announced at this stage is 10 percent, and the administration promises to clarify the scope of exemptions in implementing documents. The European Parliament responded by announcing it would freeze the ratification process of a key agreement with the US, sending a clear signal that the era of unilateral concessions is over. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French Trade Minister Nicolas Forissier emphasize the need for the entire Community to develop a common position to effectively counter pressure from across the Atlantic. An additional area of conflict has become the defense sector. The Pentagon has threatened the European Union – including Poland – with retaliatory measures if Brussels pushes through regulations giving preference to domestic arms manufacturers. The Americans describe the proposal – known as the Industrial Accelerating Act – as harmful protectionism that could weaken the cohesion of NATO. Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron personally intervened with Trump, demanding the lifting of sanctions imposed on French citizens, including former commissioner Thierry Breton and an International Criminal Court judge. The situation is complicated by Washington's launch of the Freedom.gov portal, which in Europe raises concerns about spreading disinformation and interfering with local digital policy. Since the end of World War II, the transatlantic alliance has been based on trade liberalization and shared security, but isolationist tendencies in the US have regularly resurfaced during economic crises. In the shadow of the dispute with the US, Europe is also grappling with its own economic challenges. Chancellor Merz plans a visit to Beijing to discuss German export dependence on China, which could become another flashpoint in relations with the Trump administration. At the same time, EU governments must contend with rising energy costs, which burden household budgets and fuel social discontent. Experts point out that Brussels possesses – as it has been termed – a "trade bazooka," meaning instruments allowing for the rapid introduction of retorsions if Washington does not retreat from its aggressive tariff policy.