Can the EU impose "drastic" measures on Beijing? Trump has called for 100% tariffs on China
US President Donald Trump has demanded that European countries impose tariffs of 50% to 100% on China as part of a joint strategy to counter Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He argued that these high taxes, along with an immediate halt to purchases of Russian oil, would help end the war.
Trump stressed that China has a strong grip on Russia and these tariffs “will break that grip.” His demand came at a time when transatlantic partners were trying to increase economic pressure on Moscow to force President Vladimir Putin to sit at the negotiating table.
However, Brussels responded with a clear rejection of the demand for such tariffs. A European Commission spokesperson said that any new measures in the 19th sanctions package would be in line with EU rules and procedures.
There are at least three main reasons why the European Union will not follow Trump’s radical proposal. First, the EU distinguishes between tariffs and sanctions. Tariffs are trade tools used to address specific issues such as unfair competition, while sanctions are foreign policy tools. The European Commission imposes tariffs based on in-depth investigations that take months and comply with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.
On the other hand, Trump does not differentiate between tariffs and sanctions. He has used tariffs for various purposes, such as reaching favorable agreements or encouraging American companies to bring production back home.
Second, the EU cannot find political consensus to launch such a radical attack on China, one of its largest trading partners. This was clearly seen in 2024, when Brussels' proposal for tariffs on Chinese electric cars faced wide divisions in the vote: 10 countries were in favor, 12 abstained, and 5, including Germany, opposed.
The bloc is also acutely aware of the risks. China has a history of reacting harshly to foreign decisions it sees as damaging to its interests. For example, after tariffs on Chinese cars, China launched investigations into European imports of pork, milk and brandy, which Brussels deemed unjustified.
Following Trump's proposal, Beijing warned that imposing 100% tariffs would be "high risk." The EU is unlikely to make such a radical decision, especially given that Trump's policy changes frequently, leaving Europe in a precarious position.
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