<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/18/eu-weighs-tough-restrictions-in-face-of-trump-tariffs-but-appeasement-remains-most-likely-path>
"As the sun set over the port of Limassol in Cyprus, the head of the European
Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, last Thursday used a tried and tested formula
to describe the US – calling it one of “our allies, our partners”. Only 24
hours earlier, Denmark, an EU and Nato member state, had warned that Donald
Trump was intent on “conquering” Greenland, but the reflex at the top of the EU
executive to describe the US as a friend runs deep.
Trump’s weekend announcement that eight countries that have supported Greenland
would face tariffs unless there was a deal to sell the territory to the US was
another hammer to the transatlantic alliance, mocking the notion that the US is
Europe’s ally. The eight countries include six EU member states, as well as
Norway and the UK, the latter unprotected by the much vaunted “special
relationship”. It suggests that Europe’s strategy of flattering and appeasing
the US president has failed.
For critics, exhibit A is von der Leyen’s decision to sign a trade deal with
Trump that was deeply skewed in favour of the US. While the EU agreed to
eliminate tariffs on many US goods, it accepted 15% duties on many products and
50% on steel. After years of the EU extolling its heft as a trade player, the
terms of the EU-US trade deal signed at Trump’s Turnberry golf course last July
were seen as a humiliation.
Von der Leyen defended that deal by saying it provided “crucial stability in
our relations with the US” at a time of acute instability in an “unforgiving”
world.
Now that argument is left in ruins, while the 0% tariffs for the US may never
be implemented. The Trump administration has succeeded in uniting the European
parliament from radical left to far right – via mainstream groups – against the
agreement. The leader of France’s far-right National Rally party, Jordan
Bardella, described Trump’s threats as “commercial blackmail” and said the EU
should suspend last summer’s agreement. Meanwhile, the centre-right European
People’s Party leader, Manfred Weber, aligned itself with other mainstream
parties in calling for ratification of the deal to be paused."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
