France: European Union has leverage against US tariffs

According to France, the European Union has tools at its disposal to respond to the new US tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump.

French Trade Minister Nicolas Forissier told the Financial Times that Brussels is ready to act if necessary. Trump decided to impose a uniform 10 percent global tariff after the US Supreme Court ruled that several previous tariffs were illegal.

Paris has already discussed the situation with its EU partners and the European Commission.

According to the newspaper, the so-called "trade bazooka" is also in play—an anti-coercion instrument (ACI) that could mainly affect American technology companies. This mechanism allows the EU to resort to export restrictions, impose tariffs on services, or exclude American companies from public procurement.

At the same time, there is also a suspended package of retaliatory tariffs on American goods worth more than €90 billion, which the EU could reactivate.

(reuters, pir)