Taxing Europe at 30% is not just impractical — it’s technically impossible.
Why? Because those who would actually pay this tax aren’t Europeans. They are American citizens and American companies. This isn’t a tariff on foreign producers — it’s a hidden tax on the American economy itself.
As a fiscal conservative, I ask plainly: Why should U.S. companies — the very engine of our economy — be hit with a massive, artificial tax increase? These are the innovators, manufacturers, and employers that make America globally competitive. Penalizing them makes no sense economically, strategically, or politically.
Some argue it would force more American-made goods into the market. But let’s be realistic — many of the products we currently import from Europe don’t yet exist at scale in the U.S.. Building that industrial capacity would take years. In the meantime, Americans would pay more for certain goods, face shortages, and deal with economic instability.
A 30% import tax would drive up inflation, choke small businesses, and strain fragile supply chains. The damage would be immediate.
Here’s the principle that should guide us:
We do not wage tax wars betwen allies.
The European Union is not an adversary — it is a strategic partner. We share values, defense interests, and decades of economic cooperation. Imposing punitive tariffs on European goods (and reciprocal taxes against US goods) is a gift to our real geopolitical rivals.
If you want to talk about tariffs with purpose, let’s continue to focus on China.
That’s a country with a track record of intellectual property theft, unfair subsidies, state-controlled industries, and an aggressive posture toward the West. Targeted trade restrictions against China is justified on national security, economic, and ethical grounds. It will be expensive for America and the EU but it’s worth it in the long run. Trump’s pressure on CHINA is pure logic and smart.
But Europe? No. Taxing Europe is taxing America. It’s short-sighted, self-defeating, and dangerous.
The solution is clear:
Ban all tariffs between the United States and the European Union — permanently.
Establish a true transatlantic free trade zone. Let our economies grow together, not bleed each other dry with artificial barriers.
Rattling their cages is a good thing.
Tarrifs are just a tax by another name. And the American consumer ends up paying for it one way or another.
I can see using tarrifs to protect American workers from 3rd world labor. But punishing other 1st world countries (Europe, Japan, S. Korea, etc)? That just shows that American companies can’t compete.
If a democrat president was pulling this crap conservatives would be raising hell. But a “republican” doing it makes it all just fine...
And if Europe is not willing to come to the table? They got more eager to avoid those tarriffs
The EU is the biggest enemy of the US.
We use/consume products from Europe daily.
We fully support what Pres. Trump is doing.
If we can find US products, and we already have for quite a bit, we’ll buy those.
If we can’t, we’ll do without.
And we won’t whine while we’re doing it.