Europe bracing for impact as Trump's tariffs stir crisis

The Sueddeutsche Zeitung portrays Donald Trump as deliberately fostering uncertainty through his political choices and the theatrical way he introduces them. He is described as combining the traits of a lone performer and an authoritarian figure—implementing tariffs under exceptional legal frameworks, keeping multiple options in the air for days, and only announcing his final decision at the last moment. Trump sees this unpredictability as a form of power, which he believes can help the United States secure more advantageous deals.

The newspaper notes that a part of Trump's tactic is to attack not only competitors but also long-standing U.S. partners, such as the European Union. However, this behaviour, according to the newspaper, could lead to a serious crisis—not only in the USA but worldwide.

“SZ” recalls that the tariffs praised by Trump from the 1930s, contrary to the U.S. president's claims, only deepened the recession in that country, stifled international trade, and contributed to the global economic crisis. World War II followed this. "On Wednesday, Donald Trump initiated an experiment on a scale that cannot be overestimated. If it fails, it could lead the world to catastrophe," the newspaper concludes.

The economic newspaper "Handelsblatt" writes that Trump justifies his tariffs with absolutely "abstract calculations". "It's rare for someone to conduct such grotesque economic policy against economic common sense. The USA's trading partners are not exploiting this country—quite the opposite," we read.

Handelsblatt argues that tariffs break economic growth, drive up inflation, and create instability for businesses on both sides of the trade divide. The unpredictability of Trump’s approach makes the situation worse—decisions are often made without a clear rationale and may be reversed just as suddenly. This unpredictability, the newspaper notes, undermines confidence in the United States as a dependable partner. The immediate economic consequences are already significant, while the longer-term impact is potentially incalculable. According to the paper, the United States, once the leading force of the Western world, has effectively become just another arena in the global economic game.

According to the newspaper, the calculations on which the USA introduces tariffs are "completely fabricated". The trade deficit of this country is not due to the dishonest intentions of trading partners, but because the United States consumes more than it produces.

"Handelsblatt" also wonders what the EU's response to Trump's tariffs should be. "From an economic point of view, it would be most sensible to remain silent simply. Because no matter what retaliatory tariffs the EU imposes, they will be ineffective," we read. However, from a political point of view, according to the newspaper, Europe should send a clear and "deterring" signal, following World Trade Organization rules.

"By April 2nd at the latest, even the last American optimist should realize that risk containment policy is now necessary not only against Russia and China but also against the United States of America," concludes "Handelsblatt".

The RND editorial network, which encompasses a wide range of regional and local newspapers across Germany, states that Trump remains fixated on the use of tariffs. In a commentary by Karl Doemens, it is argued that the president’s objectives lack coherence, his economic reasoning is dubious, and the worldwide consequences are deeply harmful. Doemens calls on Europe to respond firmly, advocating for strong retaliatory measures to push back against the damaging impact of U.S. trade policy.

A commentator from RND describes the U.S. president's decision to introduce new tariffs as signaling the collapse of the globalization era, asserting that Trump has opted for the most detrimental path. Regarding trade policy, Trump is portrayed as stubborn and unwilling to heed advice. He sees tariffs as a cure-all, shielding local industries from overseas rivals, generating vast revenues for tax reductions, and serving as a strong bargaining tool in international diplomacy. However, the commentary underscores that these objectives are fundamentally at odds with one another, a contradiction the self-proclaimed dealmaker refuses to acknowledge.

According to the author, Europe cannot succumb to the "strangulation" of its export economy, and Brussels must significantly increase pressure using retaliatory measures. "One thing is certain: Trump respects only strong opponents. He will retreat (if at all) only when the political price becomes too high for him," we read.