Preparing tariff retaliation, U.S. allies say Trump will ‘buckle under pressure’

Los Angeles Times ^ | April 3, 2025 10:41 AM PT | Michael Wilner and Faith E. Pinho

[E. Pluribus Unum]

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is facing global blowback after announcing a dramatic series of tariffs on countries around the world, with U.S. adversaries and allies alike promising crushing responses that could devastate the American economy.

Stock markets in the United States, Europe and Asia plunged in the aftermath of President Trump’s announcement, which included a 10% base rate hike on nearly all foreign imports. Still other countries and trading blocs, including China, the European Union, South Korea and Japan, were hit with higher rates.

“We’re now preparing for further countermeasures to protect our interests and our businesses if negotiations fail,” Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said in remarks late Wednesday evening from Uzbekistan, calling Trump’s announcement “a major blow to the world economy.”

The British trade secretary said that the United Kingdom, one of America’s closest allies with strong ties to the Trump administration, would work over the next month to see whether it could negotiate an exemption from U.S. tariffs, or otherwise deliver retaliatory taxes. The government published a webpage asking businesses for input on identifying which American products the U.K. should implement tariffs on, with the most minimal impact on the British economy.

And in Paris, French officials said they were also pushing the rest of the European Union to agree on a response that would target U.S. digital businesses, particularly Big Tech firms, core to the U.S. and Californian economies.

“A two-phase European response is now underway,” a French official told The Times. By mid-April, the official said the European Union would unveil its initial response on U.S. steel and aluminum exports, followed by a more comprehensive, “sector-by-sector” response rolled out by the end of the month.

“Nothing should be off the table,” the official said, including “responses in the digital services sector.”

[E. Pluribus Unum]

First they laugh at you, then they call you Hitler, then they declare war on you, then they shut up and do as they are told.

Apologies to Mahatma Ghandi.

[conservativepoet]

Not breaking a sweat with this.

[Recovering_Democrat]

The world is going to be in for a big awakening.

[RoosterRedux]

Our allies will eventually give in, but the Left in this country will never shut up and do as they are told.

Marxist indoctrination has driven them bat guano crazy.

[Frank Drebin]

"“A two-phase European response is now underway,” a French official told The Times."

Not TWO phases?!!?!

[MtnClimber]

Trump may buckle after they buckle first.

[RoosterRedux]

Our allies need to take a look at how Trump handle all that the Democrats threw at him during the last 4 years.

Trump never buckles under pressure. He thrives under it.

[rfp1234]

Hahaha. And the EUnuchs will simultaneously rearm and reconquer the Donbas from Russia too. And I'm the Pope.

[ridesthemiles]

WHO IS HOLDING THE BETS???

[Tell It Right]

When it comes to trade, calling the other countries “our allies” is like calling Stacey Abrams anorexic.

[Antoninus]

Let’s get one thing straight. These people are NOT our allies and haven’t been for a long time.

[rightwingcrazy]

Phase 1: they end their tariffs on US goods. Phase 2: US ends tariffs on their goods.

[Pete Dovgan]

The shot this guy and got up and yelled at”Fight” with his fist in the air. I wonder what kinda fortitude these other politicians have?

[protoconservative]

““A two-phase European response is now underway,” a French official told The Times.”

The French way
Complaints and Complete Surender.

[TornadoAlley3]

Trump will pull back and declare victory. The only way to fix this is Congress pass the deregulation and tax cuts. Codify DOGE cuts. Do not bomb Iran. Congress should have already passed the big beautiful bill.

These tariffs alone will give rise to leftist populism and Trump's falling approval will harm Vance.

Voters want to buy cheap crap. And they are addicted consumers who do not care if their grandchildren have careers. Government welfare is great as long as illegals do not receive it The WH is chaotic. Investors want certainty.

[noiseman]

This is so absurd. All of these countries have imposed tariffs of their own, most much higher than what Trump has done, and have done it to protect certain of their domestic industries. Yet when we do the same somehow that’s the end of the world and a call for economic war.

We hold the aces because access to the American consumer market is the single most valuable product on the planet, and these other countries will inevitably get in line to maintain that access. Worst of all for them, they certainly don’t want real alternatives to their products to develop from American companies.

They’ll come around.

[FlingWingFlyer]

We’re waiting for the massive EXODUS out of America toward Canada before we make any new moves. Hey Canada! How’s your Pidgin Spanish?

[SaveFerris]

[Preparing tariff retaliation, U.S. allies say Trump will ‘buckle under pressure’]

[RoosterRedux]

LOL. Very true.

[WeaslesRippedMyFlesh]

Buckle

LOL