The European Union works for strategic autonomy with an eye to the many obstacles it might encounter on the way: the most important international upheaval is, without a shadow of a doubt, the return of Donald Trump at the White House.
Duties, Trump worries the EU
So much so that according to what emerges from a Financial Times survey conducted on 72 economists, the two greatest threats facing the economy of the Eurozone will have to face in 2025 are a possible global trade warand and a regional political paralysis.
Trade war on the horizon?
The president-elect of the USA, recalls the Ft, he committed himself once he returned to the White House on January 20 to impose tariffs of up to 20% on all imports from the United States, with tariffs rising to 60% on China. If Trump keeps his word, the tariffs will represent the most significant increase in U.S. protectionism since the Great Depression and raise the possibility of retaliation elsewhere.
Dialogue tests
Almost all respondents (81%) said that a second term dthe Trumps will weigh on Eurozone growth. On average, the 72 respondents expect the Eurozone economy to expand by just 0.9%. From this perspective, it is no coincidence that the majority of economists interviewed (61%) support the appeal made by the president of the ECB Christine Lagarde to EU policy makers to start trade negotiations with Trump to avoid an all-out trade war.
