Europe rage..

Trade associations in Europe rage against Trump’s tariffs

From CNN’s Christian Edwards

Trade associations representing an array of industries in Europe have been scathing toward US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose sweeping tariffs on the continent.

Trump’s tariffs are a “fundamental turning point in trade policy,” the head of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) said Thursday. All car imports entering the US will now face a universal 25% tariff, while all other exports from the European Union will be hit with a 20% tariff.

“It represents the US’s departure from the rules-based global trading order – and thus a departure from the foundation for global value creation and corresponding growth and prosperity in many regions of the world. This is not America first; this is America alone,” VDA president Hildegard Müller said.

The Spanish Wine Federation (FEV) said the 20% tariff on EU products will deal a “significant blow” to Spain’s wine industry and lead to higher prices for US consumers.

“The tariffs announced by the US are completely unjustified in the specific case of wine, considering that the current tariff gap between the tariffs applied by the EU and the US is minimal,” FEV Director José Luis Benítez said in a statement Thursday.

The Irish Farmers’ Association said the tariffs would “impact the competitiveness” of Irish products, like Kerrygold butter.

“Kerrygold is now the second best-selling butter brand in the US, where we sent almost 500 million euros (about $554 million) worth of product in 2024. The market accounts for about 7.5% of our total dairy exports,” it said in a statement.