EP Trade Committee Chair on US tariffs: “Unjustified, illegal and disproportionate”

Bernd LANGE (S&D, DE), Chairman of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee, reacts to the 20% tariff announced by US President Donald Trump tonight.

“While President Trump might call today 'Liberation Day', from an ordinary citizen's point of view this is 'Inflation Day'. These unjustified, illegal and disproportionate measures can only lead to further tariff escalation and a downward economic spiral for the US and the world as a whole. Because of this decision, US consumers will be forced to carry the heaviest burden in a trade war. These tariffs will only make processes and manufacturing more inefficient. They have prompted damaging uncertainty in the investment climate. Stock markets could hardly be clearer in their reactions.

The EU will respond. We will do so through legal, legitimate, proportionate and decisive measures. As the EU we will consider which of the tools at our disposal are best suited for our response. We are not backing down. We will defend our sovereignty and we will not change legislation that we have shaped democratically and in the interest of EU citizens, even if this displeases some US billionaires. The countries that have been targeted by these measures must respond with a united front and send a clear message to the US to end this tariff madness.

I do hope this administration is genuinely interested in engaging with the EU, but I am not confident. I hope that our arguments and the firmness of our response will provide sufficient incentives to bring the US to the negotiating table. The EU's door will always remain open to finding a solution.”

A press conference with Mr LANGE will take place tomorrow Thursday 3 April at 9.00. It can be followed by webstreaming and journalists wishing to participate actively and ask questions, can connect via Interactio using this link: https://ep.interactio.eu/s871-h7gf-91mi.