If Henry Kissinger were to ask me today whom he should call to discuss tariffs (he wouldn’t, because this question is a myth), I would say the European Commission. The Commission alone must decide how to respond to the economic pressure now imposed by Trump’s administration on the EU.
Trade policy falls under the exclusive competence of the EU, as outlined in Article 206 of the TFEU. Therefore, neither Meloni nor Macron should be negotiating — this is a task for the Commission alone. Its response will define its stance on the emerging world order and reveal the extent to which the EU can be perceived as a solid and influential global actor.
The first path is to comply with Trump’s demands, as Mexico and Canada did. This would mean renegotiating trade agreements, increasing purchases of U.S. military equipment, lowering tariffs on U.S. goods, or accepting a peace treaty for Ukraine regardless of its terms. However, such a move would put the EU in a submissive position rather than make it an equal partner, undermining its ambition to become a global actor.
The second option is to pre-emptively cut tariffs, signalling a commitment to ‘Lead by Example’ and a belief in free global trade. Alternatively, the EU could initiate a WTO dispute complaint as China did, though that mechanism has been paralysed since Trump’s first administration.
The third strategy is to go on the offensive by activating the anti-coercion instrument adopted in 2023 and imposing unified digital taxation. This would assert the EU’s willingness to defend its interests and counter one of Trump’s key allies—the tech bros.Considering the EU is not yet a superpower, the second option already seems lost. That leaves two choices: Submission or Rebellion? And after all, if the EU “was formed to screw the United States”, why not go riot.
Petr is a Master of Public Policy candidate at the Hertie School and a Master’s student in Law at Charles University. His academic focus, in which he also has professional experience, lies in European policies and international relations. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from Charles University, and has studied abroad at McGill University and Leiden University.
This brief article is part of our new ‘Monday Takes’ series. Do you want to submit a take as well, for example for next Monday? Check out the submission form (opening each Tuesday).