Former EU Commission Chief Jean-Claude Juncker Urges Europeans to Take a Tough Stance Against Trump’s Trade Policies.
In an interview with the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit, Juncker emphasized the need for European Union leaders to take a firm stance against the trade policies pursued by US President Donald Trump. “It’s not about cuddling, it’s about applying pressure” he said, stressing the importance of making it clear that the EU has a larger population and consumer base than the US.
Juncker also advocated for targeted tariffs on products such as Harley-Davidson motorcycles or whiskey, which the EU has previously targeted in regions important to Trump and the Republican Party. “You have to choose the areas that will hurt Trump and the Republicans domestically” he said. “It will likely be primitive, as he is also acting in a relatively primitive and not in a manner one would expect from an ally.