The EU has a gigantic stick in its possible trade retaliation arsenal. But it's so big, they may never dare to use it.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/03/fundamentally-wrong-european-leaders-condemn-trump-tariffs
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/03/fundamentally-wrong-european-leaders-condemn-trump-tariffs
Comments
Think of it as though you have a pimp and a law degree. It's just a matter of time before there is justice.
Using the anti-coercion instrument is too much
If/when he moves on Greenland, though…
Meanwhile with Great British Sovereignty we can change from being bent over at a 90° angle to 95° and threaten to rescind a fancy dinner.
Feels like the kind of move that once you go there, you can’t really undo it and the damage it will do to relations.
Not saying it’s the wrong decision, but I understand the reluctance.
That seems to be how Trump's acolytes are rationalising his batshittery.
The question is HOW weighted the majority must be - 60%? 70%? 95%?
Any idea off the top of your head if Orban and the other two mentioned by the other poster would be sufficient to block passage in this event? I could try to figure it out but you are much likelier than me to already know or at least have a ballpark idea.
And get the Euro reigning as as the worlds top currency
Who knew that a highly trained group of bureaucrats could create such protections?
/1
This is appropriate for when another entity is trying to use trade/economics to *attack* you by creating a blocking minority of client MSs)
Also because using it sets very bad precedents globally that could be applied to EU co's in future trade disputes with 3rd parties.
We need to stand up and kick them where it hurts.
In short: if they resort to it, EVERYONE will sit up and take notice.
https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/enforcement-and-protection/protecting-against-coercion/qa-regarding-anti-coercion-instrument_en
Economically this would hurt the US more, politically and morally it would be a close-to-knockout punch against Trump, but it would create a brief cold war because the US simply wouldn't back down.
If that's less bad than the alternatives they'll do it.
https://bsky.app/profile/scotfreeme.bsky.social/post/3llwtnuc4rs24
have you seen this one yet