Europe Braces for ‘Trump Tariff Tsunami’ on Food Exports

Europe is bracing for a potential “tariff tsunami” as Donald Trump threatens a sweeping 17% duty on its food and farm produce exports to the US. This aggressive move, revealed during recent Washington talks, targets beloved items like Belgian chocolate, Irish butter, and Mediterranean olive oils, all highly popular in the American market. The warning was directly conveyed to EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič by top US officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
The EU’s ambassadors were immediately informed of the impending threat, underscoring the seriousness of Trump’s “nastier than China” approach to European trade. While the bloc remains hopeful for a diplomatic resolution, EU trade spokesperson Olof Gill affirmed that negotiations are progressing towards a preliminary agreement this weekend. Simultaneously, the EU is meticulously preparing retaliatory measures, signaling its readiness for a full-scale trade conflict with counter-tariffs on significant US imports like Bourbon and Boeing aircraft if Trump’s demands are not met.
This proposed 17% tariff on agricultural products is part of a larger strategy by Trump, who intends to impose permanent tariffs as high as 70% on around a dozen countries after July 9. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has indicated that a comprehensive trade deal is unlikely in the short term, favoring a high-level framework agreement similar to the UK’s approach. A key objective for the EU is to secure immediate tariff exemptions for vital sectors, notably the auto industry, which currently faces a steep 27.5% US tariff.
With the 90-day tariff pause expiring soon, the pressure is mounting for the EU and over 60 other nations to finalize trade agreements or face significantly higher duties. The transatlantic trade relationship hangs in the balance as the deadline approaches.