From Politico, “It’s one thing to hit Harley-Davidson motorbikes and bourbon whiskey. It’s another to go after Silicon Valley or Wall Street. The European Union is considering opening up a new battlefront as President Donald Trump prepares to impose so-called reciprocal tariffs on all of America’s trading partners on Wednesday. Brussels has so far played by the traditional trade-war rulebook, matching Trump’s broader tariffs on the industrial metals with equivalent levies on iconic American brands like Harley-Davidson. The tit-for-tat response is intended to match, or ‘mirror,’ the administration’s moves — but not to escalate. … As a last resort the EU can deploy its trade ‘bazooka’ — the Anti-Coercion Instrument. As the name suggests, it would enable a broad-spectrum response, including targeting services, if Brussels concludes that U.S. actions are excessive. … And even as it signals its willingness to escalate, Brussels also hopes to bring Washington to the negotiating table. Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič is hoping his U.S. counterparts can settle on a ‘term sheet’ that sets out a framework for talks — when the next round of tariffs takes effect [emphasis added].”
Shoulda, woulda, coulda. What is it with this sh*t-for-brain world? Seriously! When did the world as a whole become so f***ing stupid? I truly want to know at what point the resistance to Dictator Don completely evaporated. At what point will the world start to take The Don! both seriously and literally? After all this time, Europeans are still grappling with how to respond. Dictator Don has been telegraphing his intentions for months, and the E.U. is still weighing its tariff response. They should have their counter tariffs ready to go and be communicating them just as Dictator Don has. If the U.S. does ABC, then the E.U. will do XYZ — no ifs, ands, or buts. And “hope,” as the article quoted above states, is not a f***ing strategy. If I had a f***ing half cent for every time I heard the resistance to Dictator Don claim they hope he will not do what he says, then I would be richer than Elonna Musk!
This is how The Don! keeps getting away with everything! No one is willing to stand up to him, and he knows it. He knows no individual or country will push back with the political ruthlessness or courage required to blunt his force. Facing no resistance, he keeps pushing harder. Moreover, anti-Trump politicians and world leaders enable his worst impulses because they all unwarrantedly fear him. Now is the time for the E.U. to push back hard and take a page from the Dictator Don playbook: If he hits them, they hit back 10 times harder. Oh, who the f*** am I kidding? The E.U. response will be feckless. I promise you. Mark my words! The Don! will get away with it again, as usual. Welcome to stupid America!