French finance minister Eric Lombard called U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war “stupid” after the threat of 200 percent tariffs on alcohol imports from the European Union. Lombard said the Europeans would have to respond in kind.
“It’s a stupid war, but if we want to be able to negotiate, we have to put ourselves on equal terms, so we’re also going to raise tariffs,” Lombard said on Telematin Friday morning.
The emerging trade war is escalating by the week.
On Thursday, Trump accused the EU of having “one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the World, which was formed for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the United States.”
The irony is that Trump claims to be pro-business while implementing policies that damage American businesses that rely on imports or export to Europe. This kind of economic nationalism might play well to his base, but it’s terrible economic policy that ignores the complex reality of global supply chains.
In the end, this isn’t about fair trade – it’s about political theater. Trump needs enemies to rally his supporters, and “Europe taking advantage of America” is an easy narrative to sell, regardless of its relationship to reality.
Beautiful-Act4320 on
Revoke IP right protection for US companies in Europe. We don’t have an obligation to enforce them at all.
ExtremeOccident on
Remember, if every adult European and Canadian buys an extra 2 bottles of European wine per year, we’d offset losing the American market in its entirety (according to some calculations Le Chat did, so just to be on the safe side, buy 4!). Be patriotic, drink more European wine!
Inevitable-Push-8061 on
Full support to our French brothers in their trade war against America. I hope they will also proudly and swiftly support Turkey’s accession process to the European Union. We all need this.
Döner kebab is more delicious than any hamburger could ever be anyway. Döner kebab with French fries is what we all need.
Fecalfelcher on
SLAMS!
MangoMoooo on
Say it with me Digital Service Tax
warpenss on
Slams, blasts and even lashes out
Stabile_Feldmaus on
Then let’s up the recently announced tarrifs on US whiskey and other Red state products to 250%
No_Heart_SoD on
The French are on fire as if it were 2003! Just gotta hope next year they don’t put LePen in power!
DrMattrix on
Perhaps we should start to name the USA as Canada’s “Southern Territories” 😁
troopzon on
Go even with 200% and add: “Next time is triple of yours.”
Old_Context_8072 on
Everytime I read a journalist say “SLAMS” I feel sad…
Feisty-Fisherman-642 on
It’s cool we got new trade partners… Russia and North Korea. I can’t wait for those discount dog cans…
Temporary-Peach1383 on
I’ll pay the surcharge and drink more French wine. F that orange goon.
PopBoysmachine902 on
Mom says it’s my turn to declare the US are unreliable allies to the world next
JesusDiedForOurSins2 on
Trump will soon go from acting like the leader of a corrupt third world country to beeing the leader of a country with the economy of a third world country
17 commenti
By Shane Croucher – Breaking News Editor:
French finance minister Eric Lombard called U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war “stupid” after the threat of 200 percent tariffs on alcohol imports from the European Union. Lombard said the Europeans would have to respond in kind.
“It’s a stupid war, but if we want to be able to negotiate, we have to put ourselves on equal terms, so we’re also going to raise tariffs,” Lombard said on Telematin Friday morning.
The emerging trade war is escalating by the week.
On Thursday, Trump accused the EU of having “one of the most hostile and abusive taxing and tariffing authorities in the World, which was formed for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the United States.”
Read more: [https://www.newsweek.com/trump-tariffs-stupid-france-equal-response-2044669](https://www.newsweek.com/trump-tariffs-stupid-france-equal-response-2044669)
The irony is that Trump claims to be pro-business while implementing policies that damage American businesses that rely on imports or export to Europe. This kind of economic nationalism might play well to his base, but it’s terrible economic policy that ignores the complex reality of global supply chains.
In the end, this isn’t about fair trade – it’s about political theater. Trump needs enemies to rally his supporters, and “Europe taking advantage of America” is an easy narrative to sell, regardless of its relationship to reality.
Revoke IP right protection for US companies in Europe. We don’t have an obligation to enforce them at all.
Remember, if every adult European and Canadian buys an extra 2 bottles of European wine per year, we’d offset losing the American market in its entirety (according to some calculations Le Chat did, so just to be on the safe side, buy 4!). Be patriotic, drink more European wine!
Full support to our French brothers in their trade war against America. I hope they will also proudly and swiftly support Turkey’s accession process to the European Union. We all need this.
Döner kebab is more delicious than any hamburger could ever be anyway. Döner kebab with French fries is what we all need.
SLAMS!
Say it with me Digital Service Tax
Slams, blasts and even lashes out
Then let’s up the recently announced tarrifs on US whiskey and other Red state products to 250%
The French are on fire as if it were 2003! Just gotta hope next year they don’t put LePen in power!
Perhaps we should start to name the USA as Canada’s “Southern Territories” 😁
Go even with 200% and add: “Next time is triple of yours.”
Everytime I read a journalist say “SLAMS” I feel sad…
It’s cool we got new trade partners… Russia and North Korea. I can’t wait for those discount dog cans…
I’ll pay the surcharge and drink more French wine. F that orange goon.
Mom says it’s my turn to declare the US are unreliable allies to the world next
Trump will soon go from acting like the leader of a corrupt third world country to beeing the leader of a country with the economy of a third world country