Denmark urges tough EU stance during Brussels meeting on Trump tariffs

The European Union must show strength while remaining open to dialogue, Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said on July 14, as trade ministers gathered in Brussels to address US President Donald Trump’s abrupt announcement of sweeping 30 per cent tariffs on European goods.

Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Rasmussen said the EU wanted to reach an agreement with the United States, but stressed that the bloc must not appear weak. He described the EU's approach as offering a "warm hand inside an iron glove" — a gesture of willingness to talk, but also a clear signal that Europe is ready to respond if the US creates an imbalance in trade, Caliber.Az eports per foreign media. 

The new US tariffs, which also target Mexico, are set to take effect on August 1. They are expected to hit a wide array of EU exports — from French cheese and German electronics to Italian leather goods and Spanish pharmaceuticals — raising prices for US consumers and potentially destabilising European economies from Portugal to Norway.

“We shouldn’t impose countermeasures at this stage, but we should prepare to be ready to use all the tools in the toolbox,” Rasmussen said. “So we want a deal, but there’s an old saying: ‘If you want peace, you have to prepare for war.’”

Among the most powerful tools available to the bloc is the new anti-coercion instrument, informally referred to as the “bazooka.” This mechanism enables the EU to take retaliatory action against countries that use economic pressure against its member states.

Under this instrument, the EU could bar American companies — including major tech firms like IBM and Microsoft — from participating in public procurement across the union. It could also restrict US investment opportunities and limit the use of American patents in Europe.

“We need to flex some muscles so that our American friends know what they are facing and that Europe does not just simply bow down to threats,” Rasmussen said.

The EU, which negotiates trade policy on behalf of its 27 member states, is expected to delay any countermeasures until August 1, the day the tariffs take effect. Until then, ministers will work to craft a unified response that signals a willingness to negotiate — but also readiness to retaliate if needed.

By Sabina Mammadli