European Member of Parliament Anna Cavazzini, a policymaker from Germany, has had enough of polite diplomacy. In response to new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, she called on the European Union to "bare its teeth."
"Of course, we have to retaliate," Cavazzini said. "We also have to show our teeth because it's the only language that this Trump administration is basically understanding."
Europe is not alone in resisting Trump's pressure. Canada and China have also made it clear that they will not stand idle. Both governments believe they have the tools needed to dent the US economy in response to what they see as hostile trade measures.
Former Canadian Ambassador to Washington David MacNaughton also minced no words. "I think you have to hit back. I don't think Trump respects rolling over," he stated.
Notably, the United States recently slapped 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, along with 20% tariffs on Chinese goods, citing efforts to combat illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking. Trump also took aim at the European Union, vowing to introduce retaliatory tariffs on countries whose tariffs on US goods are higher than those imposed by Washington.
The response has been swift. Canada and China have already announced their own countermeasures, and the EU is preparing a series of retaliatory tariffs set to take effect as early as April.
