20:17 4 April 2025
EU Should Target Services in Response to Trump’s Tariffs
The European Union’s response to new U.S. tariffs should include services, particularly in the digital sector, according to French government spokesperson Sophie Primas. Speaking on Thursday, Primas emphasized that France is “ready for this trade war” and that the EU’s reaction to President Donald Trump’s proposed 20 percent tariffs on European goods will likely be finalized by the end of April.
In an interview with RTL radio, Primas said the EU response will cover “all products and – I want to stress this – also services,” citing digital services provided by U.S. tech giants, commonly known as GAFAM (Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, Microsoft).
Trump recently threatened retaliatory tariffs in response to European digital service taxes and regulatory measures he claims disproportionately target U.S. firms.
Primas also noted that the EU is prepared to use its “anti-coercion tools” and restrict American access to public procurement markets in retaliation.
