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Donald Trump's recent threat to impose 50% tariffs on all EU imports starting June 1 escalates his global trade war, aiming to pressure Brussels into concessions amid frustrations over stalled negotiations. This aggressive strategy risks disrupting a recovery in global equity markets and could strain transatlantic relations further, as EU officials resist unilateral concessions and emphasize mutual respect in trade. Despite some calls for strong retaliation, divisions within the EU regarding countermeasures may play into...

Austria's new government plans to implement a permanent quota system for refugee family reunification, potentially allowing for quotas as low as zero, aiming to reduce far-right support and manage migration pressures. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner cited challenges like overwhelmed schools and rising juvenile crime among refugee youths as justifications for the changes, which could lead to a broader trend across Europe if upheld. The ruling coalition's restrictive stance on migration reflects a response to the...

Spain is the last major holdout in a NATO plan for all alliance members to commit to spending 5% of their GDP on defense by 2032, a target pushed by US President Donald Trump. While Spain's government, under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has committed to meeting NATO's current 2% target, it has not confirmed support for the 5% pledge, which could block a unanimous statement at the upcoming NATO leaders' summit. Spanish officials emphasize the...

Donald Trump's proposed 50% tariff on EU exports could severely impact key manufacturing sectors, notably autos, aerospace, and pharmaceuticals, which collectively represent over €530bn in exports to the US. Economic analyses indicate that such tariffs could reduce the EU's GDP by up to 0.5%, with particularly large effects on countries like Ireland. The pharmaceutical sector, which exported nearly €80bn in 2024, warns that tariffs could lead to medicine shortages, while the aerospace and auto industries...

SummaryDonald Trump announced plans to impose a 50% tariff on EU imports starting June 1, 2025, citing stalled negotiations and criticizing the bloc for various trade barriers and unfair practices against American companies. Following his statement on Truth Social, U.S. stock markets declined, with S&P 500 futures dropping 1.5% and the Stoxx Europe 600 index falling 1.7%. Previously, the U.S. had imposed a 20% reciprocal tariff on most EU goods, reduced until July 8 for...

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is actively supporting an EU ban on the Nord Stream pipelines to prevent any attempts by the US and Russia to reactivate them amid ongoing sanctions against Russia for its war in Ukraine. The sanctions aim to target Nord Stream 2 AG and associated companies, with Merz seeking to mitigate domestic debates over the pipeline's fate and "Europeanize" the issue. Despite a divided public opinion in Germany regarding the resumption of...