Tariffs go up in Washington, and hands go up in Brussels — in surrender. Donald Trump sends a letter announcing that starting August 1st, 30% tariffs will hit European exports, and how does the European Commission respond? With a resounding let’s wait and see.
We’ve gone from the “Commission that never backs down” to the Commission that freezes everything, countermeasures included. Frozen in July. Frozen in April. Apparently, even the spines are frozen.
The plan? Leave everything on hold and hope that Trump comes to his senses. Or changes his mind. Or forgets. Meanwhile, the EU convinces itself that “two weeks is a long time to negotiate”, as if the person on the other side of the table were honest and not someone who’s already slapped us with tariffs on steel, aluminum, and cars.
The message is crystal clear: Trump hits, Europe takes notes.
The much-hyped anti-coercion instrument, that so-called “regulatory bazooka” designed to defend the EU from foreign bullies? Gathering dust. Not a defense mechanism — a relic for conference slides and talking points.
Von der Leyen says she’s convinced an agreement is still possible. Shame she doesn’t explain why we should keep trusting someone who’s already blindsided us multiple times. Nor does she say why we’re berating those pushing for a reaction — like Macron or Sánchez — instead of the ones openly threatening us.
Meanwhile, Berlin calls the shots, Meloni smiles quietly, and Friedrich Merz proudly declares himself the backstage mastermind of the “big negotiation,” while Trump tosses around calendar dates like baseballs.
By refusing to act, we’ve turned weakness into a political doctrine.