Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
Top US general in Europe and Nato’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Christopher Cavoli said he was “planning to keep” US soldiers in Europe “where they are” after growing concerns about a potential withdrawal or reduction in US military presence in central and eastern Europe.
But speaking for the Department for Defence, Katherine Thompson, performing the duties of assistant secretary of defence, said there was “a global posture review” in all threatres “based on President Trump’s stated interests, and sizing our force and our resources appropriately to that,” and “no decisions have been made at this time” as to future troops presence (16:55 and 17:40)
The concerns were raised by a report in NBC News and a separate US decision to relocate its troops from Jasionka near Rzeszów in south-eastern Poland, a symbolic gateway for US and Nato’s help for Ukraine since Russian invasion on the country (13:21).
Polish officials insisted the relocation was a pre-planned technical operation (14:00) as they sought to placate fears it could mean a reduction in total number of US troops in the country (14:41 and 14:54).
Separately, Thompson appeared to confirm there were no plans for the US to leave the post of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe in Nato (18:26), as Cavoli also stressed the importance of a US general holding the post for continued nuclear deterrence (17:18).
In other news,
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed her plans to visit Washington next week to discuss US tariffs on the European Union with president Donald Trump (19:05).
German coalition talks were reportedly getting closer to a conclusion with “a strong will” to complete the process today or in the coming days, over 40 days since the general election (16:05 and 11:50).
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian forces had captured two Chinese men fighting on Russia’s side in eastern Ukraine, potentially threatening a fragile peace effort in the three-year-old war (15:34 and story).
Further US-Russia military talks were expected in Turkey in the coming days to discuss the normalisation of diplomatic relations between the countries (15:38).
Hungarian foreign minister blamed the European Commission for failing to prepare for and negotiate against Trump’s tariffs and pushed back against the bloc’s plans to retaliate (12:18), a day before the EU is expected to adopt a first round of measures responding to US tariffs on steel and aluminium (story). He also criticised the EU’s sanctions regime against Russia.
For more business reactions, follow our live blog here:
For the latest announcements coming from the White House on tariffs, including the escalating dispute with China, follow our live blog here:
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com.
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
Italy's Meloni to meet Trump in Washington next week
In the meantime, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed her plans to visit Washington next week to discuss US tariffs on the European Union with president Donald Trump.
AFP reported that in comments to a meeting with businesses published by her office, the far-right leader backed the European Union’s calls for a negotiated solution to the situation.
“This is the negotiation that must see us all engaged and at all levels... and that involves me, who will be in Washington on 17 April and obviously I intend to address this issue with the US president,” Meloni said.
But she warned against “panic and alarmism” that she said “risk doing more damage than the measure itself”, AFP said.
“I think we can all agree that a trade war between Europe and the United States does not suit anyone,” she said.
The Italian prime minister also indicated the government could use €11bn in cohesion funds to help businesses impacted by US tariff policy.
And that concludes the open session – with more answers to be given in the classified part, which (sadly) we won’t be able to listen to.
European nations lined up to buy $265 billion military equipment
Cavoli says that during the course of Russian invasion of Ukraine, there has been a 600% increase in orders from allies looking to buy American equipment, with 4,000 cases worth $265bn.
“As the Allied Commander, I encourage that. I want more capability and capacity as fast as we can get it,” he says, stressing that buying American is the easiest way to ensure interoperability within the alliance.
Cavoli also gets asked about the importance of the US military relationship with Denmark.
He says it is “one of our strongest allies,” for whom it is “their most important bilateral security relationship” which the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederikson, “she would any conversation with that comment.”
He says Denmark has “a hi-tech military, not a big one, but it’s hi-tech” with “extremely competent” special and naval special forces.
Thompson then get asked about Trump’s comments on Greenland, but broadly sidesteps the question, saying “there is a lot of cooperation” with Denmark, but with “room for growth.”
Cavoli gets asked about what would be the impact of cutting US forces in Europe on its ability to respond to any conflict.
He says:
It would increase the amount of time it took to respond.
It depends, of course, on what forces were hypothetically to be removed. It depends on what kind of action were required to counter Russia.
But clearly, moving things to the other side of the Atlantic increases the time space challenge.
He specifically confirms that it would slow the US response to a hypothethical Russian assault on eastern European allies.
Discussing the potential threats from Russia, he says that nuclear arsenal poses the largest threat, and also points to cyber threats.
But he also says “conventionally their strategic advantage continues to be mass that they can put in direct proximity to Nato forces that challenges us to respond in time across the spaces required,” stressing that is “the essence” of why the US needs “conventional deterrence on the continent.”
US 'not considering' leaving SACEUR post to non-American
Repeatedly confronted about the US plans for the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, or SACEUR, Thompson eventually directly denies reports the US could abandon the post and says:
“So first and foremost on the SACEUR question. If the question is, is the department considering that change, my definitive answer is no.”
Updated
EU allies 'want American leadership' and US head of Allied Command Operations of Nato, general says
Cavoli gets asked about the US command in Europe again, saying “allies want American leadership, our allies would like to have an American at SACEUR,” and says the posotion gives the US “quite a bit of influence”.
“Of course what the US decides to go is always going to be a policy matter, and there are other considerations that our civilian leadership will take into consideration as they think these things,” he says.
Lawmakers also repeatedly express their thanks to the Lithuanian society and the country’s leadership for the way they handled the death of four US soldiers during a training exercise, often contrasting this with the reaction of the US president, Donald Trump.
Three of the soldiers were found dead last Monday when rescuers recovered their M88 Hercules armoured vehicle from a swamp in eastern Lithuania, where it had gone missing the week prior. The fourth soldier was found a day later, as AFP reported.
Updated
Asked the same question, Thompson only says “we’re in the process of a global posture review, and no decisions have been made in any theater.”
But she says that “as part of this global force posture review, we are taking into account competing requirements,” listing a number of threats, “not only posed by Russia.”
Cavoli gets again asked about the risk of US withdrawing troops from eastern Europe.
General says “that will be a policy decision that will be made as time goes on,” but says “we are in a good position now.”
Asked further with the question suggesting the withdrawal of “two rotational brigades out of Europe” – in line with the NBC News report - he says “there is a constant review of this all the time,” and adds “usually, the dynamic is services are asking to recover some forces, they have readiness concerns, modernization concerns.”
“Those discussions continue right now,” he says.
US top general in Europe says 'planning to keep' soldiers where they are
General Cavoli gets pointedly asked about plans to keep US troops on the Eastern flanks of Nato, amid concerns in Poland and Romania I reported earlier today.
He says:
We move forces around frequently in Europe, our air forces are hopping all around. Our maritime force, or even our ground forces move, move from place to place.
But the principal locations where we have forces right now, that’s where they are, and that’s where I’m planning to keep them.
He goes on to specifically praise Poland and Lithuania for their investment and support for US troops stationed there.
US values European allies 'to extent they are willing to step up' and 'pull their weight', US defence officials ays
Katherine Thompson, of the Department of Defence, is asked whether the US considers European alliances critical to American national security.
She says “a strong defence and deterrence in Europe is certainly in our national interest, particularly as the department has an aim to focus on homeland defence” and points to “the looming threat of conflict with China and the Indo-Pacific.”
Asked to clarify her comments further, she says “we do value our partners in Europe to the extent that they’re willing to step up and be strong allies and partners with us, and that means pulling their weight.”
“That’s the tough message and the honest message that this administration has been delivering. And we believe it’s important to be honest with our allies, and that that only builds a stronger relationship for us and for our European allies and partners,” she says.
General Cavoli is also asked about the importance of a US general holding the role of Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), amid rumours that the US could be prepared to leave the position to European allies in the next reshuffle.
Cavoli confirms the existence of US nuclear weapons in Europe – adding that “the number and the modification of them is classified, but their existence is not” – and stresses they fall under his command and control.
“If those nuclear weapons were going to be offered to the alliance for nuclear deterrence … that would come under the command of the Supreme Allied Commander,” he says, adding it would currently be also him.
“The way we’re currently set up I, as the commander of EUCOM [United States European Command], own the weapons, and I hand them to myself as the Supreme Allied Commander. That’s possible because I am the same person and I am American,” he says.
His answer isn’t direct, but hinting that if the US were to continue offering nuclear protection for Europe, it should keep the post of SACEUR.
Updated
Russia has 'extensive' plans to modernise 'intended to ... challenge Nato,' US top general in Europe warns
General Cavoli was also asked about Russia’s efforts to modernise their military and he spoke of “very extensive” plans in place, with “the intention to grow their armed forces to 1.5 million” with new commands in north and eastern part of Europe, “on the border of Nato, with Finland and the Baltics.”
He says:
“They’re on the path to doing that. They’re not going very quickly, because they’re devoting so much to the effort in Ukraine.
We’ll see how much effort they’ll be able to put into it after the war. It depends largely how the war ends. But that modernisation program is intended to go right back and challenge Nato on the borders of Nato.”
US review of forces in Europe and other forces 'ongoing,' with 'no decisions' made yet, official says
Speaking at the same hearing, Katherine Thompson, performing the duties of assistant secretary of defence for international security defence, said that the US Department of Defence “is undergoing a global force posture review” in all theatres – including Europe – “based on President Trump’s stated interests, and sizing our force and our resources appropriately to that.”
“No decisions have been made at this time as part of that global force posture review, it is ongoing,” she added.
Russia 'growing threat' as we 'face historic times' in Europe, US top general tells lawmakers as he recommends to maintain 'surged' US presence in Europe
The top US general in Europe told US lawmakers that “we continue to face historic times in the European theater,” warning against “a growing threat” from Russia.
Speaking at the House Armed Services Committee, US army general Christopher Cavoli saidd that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “revealed Russia to be a chronic threat and in the coming years it is going to be a growing threat, one that is willing to achieve geopolitical goals and is actively waging a campaign of destabilisation across Europe and beyond.”
Asked about his recommendation on US force presence in Europe, he tells lawmakers:
It’s my advice to maintain that force posture as it is now.
Since 2022 when we originally surged forces forward, we have periodically reviewed the force structure at both the military level and the policy level, and I have consistently recommended throughout that period to maintain the forces we surged forward, and I would continue to do so now.
He then adds:
It’s really because of our proximity and our familiarity with the area, the bases that we have in Europe, and the legal permissions we have with nations hosting us, [that] give us the ability to project power quickly in our interest on behalf of our US unilateral interests.
The Finnish foreign minister has defended her government’s plan to leave the Ottawa treaty banning anti-personnel landmines, claiming Finland needs to be able to procure mines in case of potential attack by Russia.
Finland announced last week that it planned to leave the 1997 Ottawa Convention, attracting criticism from neighbouring Norway, which remains part of the convention and also borders Russia.
Russian media has claimed it is evidence that Finland is preparing for war and that it plans to put landmines on their 830-mile shared border, which has been closed on the Finnish side for over a year.
Speaking at bilateral talks with her Swedish counterpart in Stockholm, Elina Valtonen told the Guardian that antipersonnel landmines would only be used by Helsinki domestically and in defence.
But she insisted that the Nordic nation remains committed to de-mining internationally.
Valtonen told the Guardian:
“First of all, the antipersonnel mines would only be used in defence, only on Finnish soil and also with modern systems we would of course be tracking the minefields if put into use. But first and foremost this is about getting ourselves the freedom to make use of antipersonnel mines if needs be.”
She added:
“Therefore we are preparing legislation to step out of the convention for the use of the mines or for the potential future use of the mines as part of our defence architecture.
But at the same time we still remain very committed to the humanitarian work in relation to this and continue our funding to de-mining projects around the world.”
Asked whether any potential mines would be used on the Finnish border with Russia, she said it was “depending where the aggression comes from”. But, she added: “It’s most likely not coming from Sweden.”
She said the decision was taken on the basis of analysis of Russian tactics in Ukraine.
“The reason we are taking this step is our defence forces have closely scrutinised and analysed the lessons learned from the warfare in Ukraine and we do see that Russia is very much still today still engaged in very soviet-style invasion by which they are using significant use of land forces and showing little to no regard for human life.”
She added: “This is the type of warfare we have to prepare for in order to prevent that from ever happening.”
Helsinki, she said, does not plan on reopening the border “for the time being” citing threat of hybrid attack by Russia using asylum seekers.
After the “golf diplomacy” talks between Trump and the Finnish president, Alexander Stubb, she said the US and Finland, a world leader on icebreaker ships, are in discussion about developing the vessels for the US.
At a joint press conference at foreign policy conference Hanalys with Swedish foreign minister Maria Malmer Stenergard, she claimed that the reason Finland is ranked the world’s happiest country is because its population know that living conditions on the other side of the border in Russia is “the opposite of what we want to be living in.”
Responding to criticism by the Swedish Armed Forces which this week warned of obstacles getting in the way of Sweden’s ability to quickly develop and purchase new defence technology, Malmer Stenergard said Sweden has “doubled investment in four years and we will continue to invest in our military.”
'Strong will' to finalise German coalition talks - media reports
Let me bring you an update on the German coalition talks, with the Bild newspaper reporting that there is a strong will to reach a deal today, and to be presented on Wednesday.
There are still some outstanding issues on tax and pensions, the tabloid said.
Separately, two sources told Reuters about the same expected timeline.
Once the deal is confirmed, Friedrich Merz could be formally named as the new chancellor at the Bundestag’s sitting on 7 May, just in time to take part in the VE Day commemorations the following day and the EU-UK summit on 19 May.
Updated
US-Russia talks on normalising diplomatic links expected in coming days
Separately, we are also getting reports from Russian state-owned news agency Tass that further US-Russia talks are expected “in coming days” in Istanbul, with Russia’s ambassador to the US Alexander Darchiev set to lead the Moscow delegation.
Both delegations will be made up of only diplomats and the talks will focus on normalising the operations of the diplomatic missions of both countries, the ministry was cited as saying, Reuters said.
Updated
Chinese nationals captured fighting for Russia in Ukraine, Zelenskyy says
Meanwhile, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian forces had captured two Chinese men fighting on Russia’s side in eastern Ukraine, potentially threatening a fragile peace effort in the three-year-old war.
Reuters noted that Beijing is a close ally of Moscow but is not publicly known to have directly aided in the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion.
Writing on X, where he posted a video of one of the men, Zelenskyy said Kyiv has “information suggesting that there are many more Chinese citizens in the occupier’s units” and that he had ordered officials to obtain a response from Beijing.
“Russia’s involvement of China, along with other countries, whether directly or indirectly, in this war in Europe is a clear signal that Putin intends to do anything but end the war,” Zelenskyy wrote, as reported by Reuters.
The Ukrainian foreign ministry summoned China’s charge d’affaires in Kyiv to explain the incident.
Updated
US forces repositioning 'consulted' with Poland, with assurances of no reduction in troops numbers, Polish prime minister says
Speaking minutes later, Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said the repositioning of US troops in Jasionka, announced on Monday, had been “consulted” with Poland “many weeks ago” and was “not a surprise.”
He added that the US had committed to keeping these troops in Poland, meaning “there is no reduction in US deployment in Poland or in Europe.”
“I’m talking about assurances we received from Americans; I hope they will come true,” he said.
Speaking at a press conference in Warsaw just now, Polish defence minister Kosiniak-Kamysz has repeated the same points, saying the process of repositioning US troops had been gradually taking place since December, with German and Norwegian forces arriving in Jasionka to take over some of their roles.
He insisted the broader US presence in the region remained unchanged, with the US troops stationed in Jasionka expected to remain in Poland and get deployed to other bases, and US intelligence-sharing and military aid for Ukraine continuing without disruptions.
The minister even tried to briefly argue the change was a net positive, given the troops had been previously primarily assigned to help Ukraine with their presence specifically in Poland being a by product of logistics arrangements, and now will be permanently stationed in Poland.
He stressed that US defence secretary Pete Hegseth and other US officials repeatedly pointed to Poland as a “model ally,” given the highest level of defence spending in Nato and approx. $60 bn in further contracted defence investments.
Updated
Repositioning US troops from Jasionka 'pre-planned operation', Polish defence ministry insists
The Polish ministry of defence has got back to me, stressing that the relocation of US troops out of Jasionka is a pre-planned operation in line with decisions made at the 2024 Nato summit in Washington.
It stressed the Jasionka base continues to operate without disruptions, with tasks previously falling to US soldiers taken over by other allies, including air defence systems from Norway and Germany, and air patrol operations by Norway, Sweden and the UK.
The ministry said that the total number of US troops in Poland remains unchanged, at about 10,000.
Poland’s defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz will hold a press conference at the top of the hour, so I will bring you his comments for more detail as he will probably seek to offer further reassurance on this.
The move is causing a lot of concern in Poland given Jasionka’s symbolic status as the gateway for US and Nato’s help for Ukraine. In March 2022, the then US president Joe Biden visited the base to pay tribute to US soldiers’ work there in the immediate aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Updated
For what it’s worth, I have approached the Polish and Romanian defence ministries for comment on the NBC News report and will get you their responses if and when I hear back from them.
US reportedly considering withdrawing up to 10,000 US soldiers from central, eastern Europe - reports
The US administration is reportedly considering withdrawing up to 10,000 US soldiers from central and eastern Europe, according to a report by US broadcaster NBC News.
The unconfirmed plans are understood to be looking at reducing US presence in Poland and Romania, despite what regional leaders see as a growing threat from increasingly aggressive Russia.
The sources quoted by NBC News said the proposal, if adopted, could “reinforce fears that the United States is abandoning its longtime allies in Europe who view Russia as a growing threat.”
“The President is constantly reviewing deployments and priorities to make sure he keeps America First,” US national security council spokesperson Brian Hughes said in a statement to NBC News.
The report, which is causing concern in the region today, follows a separate decision to “relocate” some US troops from Jasionka near Rzeszów in south-eastern Poland, which plays a key role in facilitating aid operations for Ukraine, to other parts of Poland.
“The important work of facilitating military aid to Ukraine via Jasionka will continue under Polish and Nato leadership, supported by a streamlined U.S. military footprint,” the statement published on Monday read.
But Polish defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz has played down concerns about the decision, saying this morning that the US was merely implementing a change agreed at the last year’s Nato summit in Washington, with the Nato Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) assuming control over the operation instead.
The mission in Jasionka will be now supported by troops from Poland, Germany, Britain and Norway, with “other allies” also involved, he said.
A separate statement by the Polish ministry of defence stressed that the change was “planned” and “is part of a broader strategy to streamline US military operations.”
It added that “the total number of US troops stationed in different locations in Poland … is not changing,” with 10,000 present in total.
Polish president Andrzej Duda also sought to placate fears about the relocation, telling reporters on a trip to Estonia that he was pre-briefed on the decision, and it did not amount to US withdrawal.
EU sanctions policy 'failed' to make impact on Russia, Hungary's foreign minister says
Péter Szijjártó, a frequent visitor to Moscow despite the continuing Russian aggression against Ukraine, also told Bloomberg that the EU’s sanctions policy “has failed” as he claimed it “hit European economy more than the Russian economy”.
He said that Hungary’s view on rolling over the existing sanctions will “depend a lot on … the geopolitical circumstances”, with Budapest closely following the progress of Trump-led talks with Russia.
“The world has become a safer place in the last couple weeks just because of these negotiations, because although we don’t know whether peace is going to be made on the short term or medium range or long term, but … the risk of escalation of the war [has been decreased] by the fact that the Russians and the Americans are in direct negotiations … and this is good news for us,” he argued.
Confronted about his trips to Moscow, he said he wished others had done the same, arguing “the only way out of this war comes through negotiations”.
Szijjártó said that Hungary remained closely linked with Russia because of energy imports, criticising other neighbours for not investing enough in their infrastructure to create rival route for supplying energy.
“Russia has been a reliable partner, so far, when it comes to energy deliveries. No one gave us a better offer, a more reliable and cheaper offer … so we are obviously … in a fair cooperation with them and we cannot give it up under the current circumstances,” he said.
But he insisted that despite significant policy differences with Brussels on its push for “a federalistic super state directed by and from Brussels,” Hungary remained a committed member of the European Union.
Updated
Hungary's foreign minister blames EU for failing to proactively engage with Trump on tariffs
Back to tariffs, Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó was on Bloomberg TV earlier today, blaming the European Commission for failing to prepare for and negotiate against Trump’s measures and pushing against the bloc’s plans to retaliate.
He said that Hungary had a “concrete proposal” for talks with the US focusing around the automotive industry with a unilateral move to decrease EU tariffs on automotive imports to win Trump’s good will – but was ignored by the commission.
“These kind of challenging times show very clearly that the institutions in Brussels are not able to lead,” he argued.
Szijjártó said that Hungary could not enter into narrow negotiations with the US as trade falls under community competences for the commission, but he confirmed there were advanced talks about a broader “bilateral cooperation framework which includes economic elements,” as he stressed Hungary was on “very good terms” with the Trump administration.
And just like that, the German news agency dpa says that Merz cancelled his scheduled appearance at the Young Union’s reception in Berlin tonight, reportedly saying the focus is on finalising the coalition talks instead.
It was meant to be his first public appearance in days, but turns out we won’t hear from him tonight there.
That point about deferring the decision on future resettlement to the next government is important here as the coalition forming process is drawing out a bit, with questions about whether the expected chancellor, Friedrich Merz, will meet the self-imposed deadline of having a government in place by Easter, which falls on 20 April.
The two main powers – the conservative CDU/CSU and the Social Democrats – are under increasing pressure to finalise their talks as the far-right Alternative für Deutschland continues to rise in polls and, at 24%, is level with Merz’s election winners according to the latest polls published over the weekend.
45 days after the election, the two parties are still locked in fraught talks over the next government’s programme, with some fearing the eventual compromise will not be satisfactory to either side’s voters.
In recent days, even the youth arm of the CDU in Cologne criticised Merz for lengthy talks and giving in to too many demands from the SPD, prompting fears that this could further fuel disillusion among some voters and help the AfD push ahead with its narrative and come top in the polls.
Further talks are expected tonight, and Merz will be hoping to have them concluded by the end of the week.
I’ll keep an eye on this for you.
Updated
Germany temporarily suspends resettlement of UN refugees, German press agency dpa says
Germany has temporarily suspended accepting new refugees via a UN resettlement programme, pending the outcome of the coalition negotiations and the new government formation, the German press agency DPA reported.
The DPA’s report said that almost all resettlement applications will be suspended until the new government takes office, with only “well advanced” cases expected to be processed.
DPA noted that German previously committed to offer support for 13,100 refugees in 2024 and 2025, with 5,061 people using the scheme so far.
EU's von der Leyen speaks with China's Li Qiang on trade and 'avoiding further escalation'
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen spoke with Chinese premier Li Qiang about “the responsibility of Europe and China … to support a strong reformed trading system” and push for “a negotiated resolution” to current trade disruptions.
The EU’s readout said she stressed “the need to avoid further escalation” after a heated exchange of words between Beijing and Washington on potential extra tariffs.
She also “emphasised China’s critical role in addressing possible trade diversion caused by tariffs, especially in sectors already affected by global overcapacity,” the statement said.
Von der Leyen also discussed the idea of “setting up a mechanism for tracking possible trade diversion and ensuring any developments are duly addressed,” and “recalled the urgency for structural solutions to rebalance the bilateral trade relationship and ensure better access for European businesses, products and services to the Chinese market.”
Finally, the two leaders spoke about Ukraine, with the commission president “emphasising that any conditions for peace must be determined by Ukraine,” as she “invited China to intensify its efforts to contribute meaningfully to the peace process.”
Meanwhile, European stock markets are rising at the start of trading, despite fears that the trade war between the US and the rest of the world, and in particular China, is intensifying.
You can follow live reactions on our business live blog here:
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Trump risking 'a Liz Truss moment', German press says
To give you an idea on how some in Europe see Donald Trump’s trade policies, the German business daily Handelsblatt says today, quoting an interview with a senior German economist Ulrike Malmendier, that the US president could be risking a “Liz Truss moment.”
The former British prime minister remains very sensitive about any suggestions that she crashed the economy, but it was the fallout from her budget in 2022 that sparked a political crisis and eventually led to her leaving the post after just 49 days.
But the German paper adds that the problem with the analogy is that the Republican Party does not seem to have a notoriously rebellious committee of backbench lawmakers prepared to force its leader to make concessions or to resign.
“If Trump was to actually correct his tariff policy, it could only be due to his own insight – or out of fear of an economic collapse in the US,” it says.
For what it’s worth, Truss is a fervent supporter of Trump.
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Morning opening: Not good enough
US president Donald Trump openly rejected the EU’s proposals for a “zero for zero” tariffs deal on cars and industrial goods, telling reporters in the Oval Office it was not good enough.
His comments are not entirely surprising as European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič already indicated there were no signs that the offer, made originally in February, would be taken up.
But Trump’s very direct rejection overnight makes another dent in the EU’s hopes of getting a negotiated solution, without having to escalate the trade war any further.
Speaking alongside Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump repeated his greatest hits on the EU which he says “has been very tough over the years” and “was formed to really do damage to the United States in trade” through “a little bit of a monopoly situation to create a unified force against the United States.”
“We have a deficit with the European Union of $350bn and it’s going to disappear fast. And one of the reasons and one of the ways that that can disappear easily and quickly is they’re going to have to buy our energy from us because they need it. They’re going to have to buy it from us. … We can knock off $350bn in one week,” he said.
(The EU questions the figure as completely incorrect, giving me flashbacks of another dispute over 350, a clearly unfortunate number, but millions that was at the centre of the Brexit campaign in the UK.)
Trump also raged against non-monetary tariffs, picking up on the unusually specific question of safety standards in cars, as he said the EU “make it so difficult, the standards and the tests” as “they drop a bowling ball on the top of your car from 20 feet up in the air and if there’s a little dent, they say no, I’m sorry, your car doesn’t qualify.”
“When the same car from Germany or anything would dent likewise; unless you can have an army tank, it’s going to dent. So, they come up with rules and regulations that are just designed for one reason, that you can’t sell your product in those countries. And we’re not going to let that happen.”
Meanwhile in Brussels, officials will be finalising the first tranche of retaliatory measures against US tariffs on steel and aluminium, which are due to be formally voted on tomorrow.
Let’s see what the day brings.
It’s Tuesday, 8 April 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
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