Senior officials of The European Union has met with ambassadors of the countries of the Bloc to discuss the possible consequences if the Republican candidate Donald Trump wins the elections in the USA, reports the European edition of Politico, citing information from 12 EU diplomats, as quoted by Focus.
"They are worried about trade, but mostly about Ukraine”, one of the diplomats shared, adding that Brussels foresees "dramatic changes in US policy even before he takes office”.
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The main areas of uncertainty discussed during the meetings were two: whether Washington would continue its support for Ukraine and the possibility of higher US tariffs on all imported goods.
The meetings took place at a time when fears of a potential return of Trump to the White House are spreading through the highest levels of power in Brussels. There have also been reports that the EU has set up a special "Rapid Response Team", also known as the "Trump Task Force". Representatives of six departments of the European Commission participate in the discussions, discussing potential "upheavals” in the areas of trade, energy and digital policy if Trump returns to the presidency.
On Thursday and Friday, small groups of ambassadors from the 27 EU countries met with senior officials in Brussels, including the head of office of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Björn Seibert.
Trump, who threatened not to protect "the guilty” NATO allies, if they spend less than two percent of GDP on defense, also announced their intention to impose 10 to 20 percent tariffs on all imports into the country, with the goal of bringing back U.S. manufacturing jobs. On Thursday, Trump called the EU a "little China”.
"They don't accept our cars, they don't accept our agricultural products, they don't accept anything. You have a $312 billion deficit. The EU is small – but not so little China,” he stated.
Three of the diplomats noted that the EU's relations with China were also affected in the discussions.
Even if a potential mandate of Kamala Harris is not as "destructive" as that of Trump, the EU executive wants to show that it is ready for any possible scenario, says one of the diplomats.
"We are really gearing up for the US election. All possible outcomes are considered. We are committed to maintaining a close partnership with the US,” said Ariana Podesta, spokeswoman for the Commission.