Polish PM warns against EU-US trade war amid rising tensions

File Source: The Guardian

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has urged the European Union to avoid a trade war with the United States, calling it “totally unnecessary and stupid” as tensions escalate over new tariffs imposed by Washington.

Tusk’s remarks come after U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed on Friday that he would “absolutely” impose tariffs on EU imports following his decision to levy 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods and 10% on Chinese products. While the U.S. temporarily paused new tariffs on Mexico for a month after an agreement on border security, the levies on Canada and China are set to take effect on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters in Brussels on Monday ahead of an informal EU summit on defense, Tusk warned that internal conflicts among allies would be counterproductive in the face of external threats. “It will be a cruel paradox if, during this time of direct Russian threat and Chinese expansion, we try to find a reason to be in conflict among allies,” he said.

Tusk, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency, described the situation as an unprecedented test of the bloc’s solidarity. “This is perhaps the first such test of the solidarity and unity of the European Union in a very unusual situation when we are dealing with such a series of surprises from our closest ally,” he noted.

Emphasizing the need for diplomacy and cooperation, Tusk called for “common sense, calmness, and responsibility” in managing trade disputes. “We [the EU] must be able to take care of our relations with the U.S., but we must also have a sense of our own dignity and strength,” he added. “We must undoubtedly be united.”