On Wednesday night, Donald Trump unveiled his much-touted tariff package, described as one of the most aggressive in modern times – and the world is getting ready to respond to the import duties.
– That’s what hurts most. It is one of our closest friends who is doing this, says Sweden’s Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa (M).
The US tariffs against the rest of the world were higher than most observers had expected – even though Trump himself described it as a “day of liberation” and argued that it was high time to punish those countries that had allegedly worked against the US with alleged election manipulation, subsidies, high taxes or theft of intellectual property.
LIBERATION DAY RECIPROCAL TARIFFS pic.twitter.com/ODckbUWKvO
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 2, 2025
In practice, the announcement includes 25% car tariffs and 20% tariffs on imports from the EU.
China, however, will be penalized even more severely – Chinese goods will be subject to 34% tariffs, and if you include the tariffs already in place, the total tariff will be around 54%.
Norway will get off slightly easier with 15% tariffs and for the UK the figure will be 10%. The President also announced that a general minimum tariff will be introduced on imports from all countries in the world – and that this will be 10%.
– If you want your tariff rate to be zero, then you build your product right here in America, he declared.
“Incomprehensible and sad”
Reactions have been swift, with a very long line of leaders condemning the US announcement, promising retaliatory measures or calling on the US administration to back down and withdraw the tariffs.
– I deeply regret that the US has now embarked on a path to restrict trade by raising tariffs. We do not want growing trade barriers. We do not want a trade war. It would make our people poorer and the world more dangerous in the long run, said Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) in a public statement.
A spokesperson for the French government goes much further, accusing Trump of seeking to become “master of the world”, and Denmark’s foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen says everyone stands to lose from a US trade war with Europe.
Sweden will continue to stand up for free trade and international cooperation. pic.twitter.com/ZJWPbVhbmf
— SwedishPM (@SwedishPM) April 2, 2025
Swedish Minister for Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa (M), like his colleagues, is very upset by the customs decision, calling it “incomprehensible and sad”. He is also convinced that the decision will have a major impact on Sweden and the Swedish people.
– Sweden is a small export-dependent country and the US is one of our most important markets. There are certain sectors that are particularly dependent on the US market. These include our car exports, where over 100,000 people are dependent on trade, either directly as companies or as subcontractors. Then there are pharmaceutical exports, timber and lumber.
– From the government’s side, we will do everything we can to minimize the impact on the Swedish economy and Swedish jobs, he continues.
“Millions will face higher food prices”
According to Dousa, European nations have been trying to negotiate and find a solution to avoid the trade tariffs in recent weeks – but there has been no such interest from the US side.
– That door should always be open, we should not be driven by a desire for revenge… But if the US goes ahead with the tariffs and the talks don’t go anywhere, Europe needs to stand strong and ready and respond to this – raising tariffs on products for which there are plenty of alternatives.
The much-criticized President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, also announced that “we are preparing for further countermeasures, to protect our interests and our businesses”, describing it as a major setback for the entire world economy.
– I deeply regret this choice. Let’s be clear-eyed about the immense consequences. The global economy will massively suffer.
– Millions of citizens will face higher grocery bills. Medication will cost more as well as transportation. Inflation will go up, warns the EU leader.
BREAKING from : The EU just told Trump to brace for impact.
After his 20% tariff stunt, Ursula von der Leyen fired back:
“This is a major blow to the world economy. We’re preparing countermeasures.”This won’t end well. Especially not for Americans. pic.twitter.com/nrJVdY64Rl
— Mario (@PawlowskiMario) April 3, 2025
The globalist EU leader believes that the US itself will also be negatively affected as many players may abandon the US and seek other markets.
On April 7, EU trade ministers will meet to discuss a joint EU response to the US trade tariffs.
