Trump Strengthens a Europe of Fair and Trustworthy Free Trade Advocates
Published in Der Standard
(Austria) on 8 April 2025
by Thomas Mayer (link to original)
The U.S. president has significantly undermined trust in the U.S. with his military threats and tariff orgies. It is a major opportunity for the Europeans.
Thank goodness for Donald Trump. The U.S. president has achieved what the member states of the European Union have failed to do for decades. They are united against tariffs and — with the exception of Hungary — they are suddenly standing as a global beacon, and not just for freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. After the Trumpian orgy of punitive tariffs on the rest of the world, the EU can present itself as a new, trustworthy harbinger of free, fair, and reliable trade.
It is about trust. This is crucial for prosperity and social well-being. Trump’s egomaniacal thrashing around is the opposite of that. That is how EU President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen can invite economic powerhouse China to also keep its cool, to work together to ensure a return to normal relations.
United States of Europe
The trans-Atlantic partners are experiencing bizarre leaps in history right now. First, the U.S. president persistently destroys trust in NATO, in the common defense of the West. Now, he is doing almost everything to isolate the U.S. economically as well. That presents a double opportunity for the Europeans. If in contrast, they implement their domestic and capital market and establish a military union, they can become a stronger global player, in other words, a United States of Europe, an attractive trade partner.
Thank goodness for Donald Trump. The U.S. president has achieved what the member states of the European Union have failed to do for decades. They are united against tariffs and — with the exception of Hungary — they are suddenly standing as a global beacon, and not just for freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. After the Trumpian orgy of punitive tariffs on the rest of the world, the EU can present itself as a new, trustworthy harbinger of free, fair, and reliable trade.
It is about trust. This is crucial for prosperity and social well-being. Trump’s egomaniacal thrashing around is the opposite of that. That is how EU President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen can invite economic powerhouse China to also keep its cool, to work together to ensure a return to normal relations.
United States of Europe
The trans-Atlantic partners are experiencing bizarre leaps in history right now. First, the U.S. president persistently destroys trust in NATO, in the common defense of the West. Now, he is doing almost everything to isolate the U.S. economically as well. That presents a double opportunity for the Europeans. If in contrast, they implement their domestic and capital market and establish a military union, they can become a stronger global player, in other words, a United States of Europe, an attractive trade partner.
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