The imposition of high customs tariffs on steel and aluminium from Europe is a manifestation of US President Donald Trump's distrust in the power of the European Union (EU), which he disrespects, Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) has said in a video posted on a social network.
However, Fico said that he has no doubt that the opposition will blame the Premier and the whole governing coalition for the high US duties.
According to Fico, the EU's inability to compete with the United States will lead to the "big boys" in Europe making several decisions. "First, that Europe will buy more and more gas and oil from the USA, meaning that an Eastern dependency will be replaced by a Western one. Secondly, as stated by the NATO secretary-general, Europe will pay the USA for weapons for Ukraine. And thirdly, Europe will agree to a brutal increase in military spending without much resistance," stated Fico.
Slovak MEPs across political factions agree that the European Union (EU) should respond to the introduction of American tariffs together and in a unified manner so that its response makes sense.
"European cooperation is important in order to resist American tariffs. We must be united, we must be able to agree on a common approach. We have the tools, we can introduce retaliatory tariffs and for the European Commission to be able to negotiate, it is important that it have the support of the member states. Because Trump wants to divide and rule," said EP Vice-President Martin Hojsík (Let's Renew Europe/RE).
That is why, according to him, the Slovak government should play this game together with Brussels, this cooperation will best protect Slovakia. In this context, he expressed hope that both sides will agree and will not "do bad things to each other", but the EP does not give the European Commission a "blank check" in advance regarding countermeasures, because retaliatory steps must not harm the interests of Slovakia and the member states.
According to European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič, the European Commission is working to prepare adequate countermeasures after the introduction of new tariffs by the United States. The European Union (EU) wants to protect its businesses, citizens and consumers as best as possible.
On Tuesday, European Parliament discussed the current state of trade relations between the EU and the US with European Commissioner Šefčovič and Polish Minister for EU Affairs Adam Szlapko, as well as multilateralism and potential EU reactions if Washington imposes tariffs on European products.
Source: TASR
