"Liberation Day", a direct threat to global trade and European prosperity

Renew Europe MEPs strongly denounce U.S. President Donald Trump's so-called "Liberation Day" announcement, of sweeping arbitrary tariffs on international trade partners, including 20% on the European Union imports. This move represents a dangerous escalation of global tensions and protectionist policies that threaten to destabilise the global economy and undermine a century of developing shared rules for mutual prosperity in international relations.

"President Trump's tariffs are not a liberation; they are an aggressive declaration of economic isolationism. The only indicator being liberated is price inflation for American consumers," said MEP Karin Karlsbro (Liberalerna, Sweden), Renew Europe's standing rapporteur on EU-US trade relations and vice-chair of the Committee on International Trade (INTA). "President Trump is punishing businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic, driving up costs and fuelling inflation at a time when global cooperation is more crucial than ever."

Renew Europe urges the U.S. administration to reconsider its approach and engage in constructive dialogue with its trade partners. At the same time, Europe must respond decisively to defend our interests and uphold the principles of global cooperation. It equally urges Member States to use the strength of a unified Union.

"We call on the European Commission to respond firmly" added Karin Karlsbro. "Europe must stand united in defending its economic interests and the principles of free and fair trade. We will not be steamrolled by hostile rhetoric and policies."

MEP Marie-Pierre Védrenne (Modem, France), Renew Europe coordinator for the International Trade committee and advocate for strategic autonomy in EU trade, stated : "The EU cannot allow itself to be squeezed between the U.S. and other global powers. The European Union must give itself the means to negotiate with the United States, without compromising its economic and commercial interests. But we must also be prepared to take initiatives and move closer to other partners in order to strengthen our commercial ties. The EU is a reliable and predictable partner, it is our strength that we must defend in a context of great instability."

Renew Europe repeats our call for President Trump's European supporters to speak out against these harmful tariffs and accept responsibility for their role in enabling such policies.