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Bart De Wever: “A tariff war leads to collective impoverishment”
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened 200% tariffs on champagne and wine. Speaking on Terzake, Prime Minister Bart De Wever explained why he strongly opposes a tariff war. “A tit-for-tat tariff escalation is the fastest route to collective impoverishment on both sides of the Atlantic. It’s completely unnecessary. Europe is right to take a constructive approach, but we are not naïve either.”
Avoiding a trade war
De Wever is determined to prevent a trade war. “It makes no sense at all. When you factor everything in, the trade deficit between Europe and the United States is minimal—trade is nearly balanced. This entire debate is misguided, and pursuing this path would be a dead end.”
Allies should not threaten each other
Speaking in Parliament, De Wever also expressed his belief that allies should not constantly resort to threats. “Our country has a significant pharmaceutical sector, but I am not about to play ‘little Trump’ and restrict America’s access to essential medicines.”