e15 | European exporters fear a return of Donald Trump. Brussels already has a plan to deal with it

If Donald Trump wins the upcoming U.S. presidential election, trade relations between the European Union and the United States could face serious challenges next year. Trump has promised to impose a universal ten percent tariff on all goods imported into the American market. Although his rhetoric is primarily aimed at China, such a tariff would also significantly impact European manufacturers. Is the EU preparing for the possibility that Trump could become president again and implement this measure? How would European companies be affected if the next U.S. president were Democrat Kamala Harris? Kateřina Davidová, a senior researcher at EUROPEUM Institute, comments on this topic for e15.

At the moment, Trump is primarily focusing on winning over voters in key battleground states, often former industrial centers that have undergone deindustrialization and lost traditional jobs in recent years. Consequently, residents in these areas are more receptive to protectionist rhetoric. However, such an aggressive trade policy would likely not be very beneficial for American consumers and could lead to higher prices and market volatility.

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Kateřina Davidová
Senior Research Fellow

Expertise: EU climate and energy policy, environmental protection