
Trump targets EU law, but it's not up for negotiation, says lead lawmaker
ADVERTISEMENT
The prime target of US President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs is European regulation rather than EU tariffs on American imports, according to MEP Bernd Lange (Germany/S&D) the chair of the European Parliament's Trade Committee, but EU law is non-negotiable, he said.
'[In this report,] you find 30 pages about the EU,' Lange said, citing a report from the US Trade Representative, claiming that this is 'more or less a comprehensive overview of our legislation. This is an indication that the president Trump is not looking on tariffs.'
According to the MEP, the only justification proffered by Trump's team to arrive a figure of 39% in tariffs imposed by the EU tariffs lies in European legislation.
Citing "unfair" trade practices by its partners, the US
announced a sweeping wave of reciprocal tariffs
on Wednesday, affecting imports from countries around the world.
Washington claims the EU imposes a 39% tax on US imports, and in response Trump declared a 20% tariff on all European goods, escalating trade tensions between the two economic powers.
A US Trade Representative report lists those tariffs and non-tariff barriers it claims the EU applies to US imports, citing a broad range of EU legislation including sanitary and phytosanitary, environmental and digital regulations.
'We need a basis of what we can negotiate: European legislation is not on the table,' said Lange, who advocates for a negotiated approach with the Americans to break the deadlock of the trade war.
The lawmaker added that Europeans could consider further investment in the US as a basis of negotiation.
Lange said that Trump's tariffs 'will really harm people on the ground,' including Europeans, Americans and those from the global South.
'This is unfair practice. President Trump called it liberation day, I will call it inflation day,' he added.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


France 24
26 minutes ago
- France 24
(How) Do the LA protests compare to the 1992 riots?
In the press today: We start with the protests in LA over increasing ICE arrests. The Australian press are headlining on this. The conserative Melbourne daily Herald Sun headlines "hell reigns in city of angels" and notes that rubber bullets and tear gas were used. The Guardian Australia headlines on a viral video of Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi for Channel 9 being shot with a rubber bullet during a live cross showing a guard appearing to deliberately aim in her direction. Channel 9 says the video serves as stark reminder of the inherent dangers journalists can face while reporting. Another Melbourne-based paper The Age reports that LA simmers as Donald Trump threatens to send troops everywhere. The paper's international editor Peter Hartcher writes that the confrontations we're seeing in LA are not quote episodic or random. They are likely the opening scenes of a new phase in US history. He adds that the problem is not the principle of deporting illegal immigrants but the manner in which Trump is doing it – with an enthusiasm verging on bloodlust. The San Francisco Chronicle publishes exclusive photos showing the deployment of troops as being "wildly underprepared." The photos show dozens of National Guard troops sleeping on the floor after Trump's rush to deploy them to LA, without the approval of California governor Gavin Newsom. This excellent cartoon from British illustrator Ben Jennings – Straight INTO Compton he says. The previous deployments of the National Guard also garnered a lot of attention in the press. The Associated Press notes that the deployment of National Guard troops are typically reserved for civil rights protests. It reminds us that the last time the National Guard were deployed to LA was in 2020 during the height of protests against the death of George Floyd. Some has compared the protests to the 1992 LA riots, after the acquittal of white police officers for the beating death of black man Rodney King. Time magazine explains the two are not the same notably because Trump invoked a section of the US code that allows the President to call in the National Guard when regular forces are not enough. But he did so without the approval of the governor, which is mandated in the code. Fruthermore, the damage in 1992 was extensive when the troops were called in In LA right now, it's much less. In France, Politico focusing the plight of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal. The acclaimed novelist, vocal critic of the Algerian regime and dual citizen was arrested in Algiers last November accused of undermining national unity. He's been sentenced to five years in prison. His case has garnered a lot of attention in France, which accused Algeria of using him as a political pawn. Relations between France and Algeria deteriorated last year after France's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty of Western Sahara. Supporters of the writer have now turned to Europe for help. Sansal has been in and out of hospital since his arrest – he's suffering from cancer and his supporters are concerned about his medical care. So far efforts to lobby the Algerian government to release Sansal have been ignored…his support group also filed a complaint with the EU ombudsman in the hopes of putting pressure. Staying in France, authorities are planning to use the hit Netflix series Adolescence to teach students about toxic masculinity. The series has been viewed 140 million times and garnered critical acclaim. Now the Guardian reports France will follow in the footsteps of the UK, Netherlands and the Flanders region in Belgium. The French education ministry will offer schools five classes based on excerpts from the mini series which sparked a global debate about misogynistic content online and its impact on teens. Finally, a zoo in Belgium was forced to close a zone this weekend after a fight broke out between two seals! Le Parisien reports that the fight erupted after the male seal, who wanted to mate with a female, was rebuffed. Given how big these seals can be – up to 270kg - it's a good thing the zone was closed so the sparring seals could cool off a bit…as they say, make love not war!


France 24
40 minutes ago
- France 24
UN Ocean Conference drums up signatories to key High Seas Treaty
Eighteen countries ratified the High Seas Treaty on Monday, bringing the total to 49 – just 11 short of the 60 needed for the ocean agreement to enter into force. The surge in support, occurring during the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, adds momentum to what could become a historic shift in how the world governs the open ocean. Here's what the treaty is, why it matters and what happens next. Formally known as the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, the High Seas Treaty is the first legally binding agreement focused on protecting marine biodiversity in international waters. These waters, which are beyond the jurisdiction of any single country, make up nearly two-thirds of the ocean and almost half the surface of the planet. Until now, there has been no comprehensive legal framework to create marine protected areas or enforce conservation on the high seas. Despite their remoteness, the high seas are under growing pressure from overfishing, climate change and the threat of deep-sea mining. Environmental advocates warn that without proper protections, marine ecosystems in international waters face irreversible harm. 'Until now, it has been the wild west on the high seas," said Megan Randles, global political lead for oceans at Greenpeace. "Now we have a chance to properly put protections in place.' The treaty is also essential to achieving the global '30x30' target – an international pledge to protect 30% of the planet's land and sea by 2030. The treaty creates a legal process for countries to establish marine protected areas in the high seas, including rules for destructive activities like deep-sea mining and geo-engineering. It also establishes a framework for technology-sharing, funding mechanisms and scientific collaboration among countries. Crucially, decisions under the treaty will be made multilaterally through conferences of parties (COPs) rather than by individual countries acting alone. Once 60 countries ratify the treaty, a 120-day countdown begins before it officially enters into force. That would unlock the ability to begin designating protected areas in the high seas and put oversight mechanisms into motion. As of Monday evening, 49 countries and the EU had ratified, meaning 11 more are needed to trigger that countdown. The first Conference of the Parties (COP1) must take place within one year of the treaty's entry into force. That meeting will lay the groundwork for implementation, including decisions on governance, financing and the creation of key bodies to evaluate marine protection proposals. Environmental groups are pushing to surpass the required 60 ratifications, and to do so quickly – the more countries that ratify, the stronger and more representative the treaty's implementation will be. There's also a deadline: only countries that ratify by COP1 will be eligible to vote on critical decisions that determine how the treaty will operate. 'To reach 60 ratifications would be an absolutely enormous achievement, but for the treaty to be as effective as possible, we need countries from all over the world to engage in its implementation,' said Rebecca Hubbard, director of the High Seas Alliance. 'So the next step will be to go from 60 to global.' The surge in support on Monday has raised hopes that 2025 could mark a turning point for high seas protection. 'We're on the brink of making high seas history,' Hubbard said.


France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
Madrid to host grand prix as Formula One announces 2026 calendar
The 2026 campaign will open for the second successive season in Australia at Melbourne's Albert Park street circuit on March 6-8. The race in the Spanish capital Madrid is on September 11-13 and will bring the curtain down on the European segment of the season. The new Madrid circuit will have both street and non-street sectors. The 24-weekend campaign will again conclude in Abu Dhabi, on December 4-6. Montreal in Canada will now follow Miami in May to cut down on travelling for the teams. The 2026 season promises to look radically different with Cadillac becoming the 11th team on the grid and sweeping new regulations on aerodynamics and power units. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of motorsport's governing body, the FIA, said: "Next year's FIA Formula One World Championship marks a significant new chapter for our sport. "A new race, new teams, and the arrival of new manufacturers, all ushering in a fresh era of innovation and competition." Formula One 2026 calendar: March 6-8: Melbourne, Australia March 13-15: Shanghai, China March 27-29: Suzuka, Japan April 10-12: Sakhir, Bahrain April 17-19: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia May 1-3: Miami, United States May 22-24: Montreal, Canada June 5-7: Monaco June 12-14: Barcelona, Spain June 26-28: Spielberg, Austria July 3-5: Silverstone, Great Britain July 17-19: Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium July 24-26: Budapest, Hungary August 21-23: Zandvoort, Netherlands Sept 4-6: Monza, Italy Sept 11-13: Madrid, Spain Sept 25-27: Baku, Azerbaijan Oct 9-11 Singapore Oct 23-25 Austin, United States Oct 30-Nov 1: Mexico City, Mexico Nov 6-8 Sao Paulo, Brazil Nov 19-21 Las Vegas, United States Nov 27-29 Lusail, Qatar Dec 4-6: Abu Dhabi, UAE © 2025 AFP