Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivered a fiery message to the European Union this week: Don’t let U.S. tariffs bully you into submission. 🔥 Speaking in Athens, she warned that retaliatory measures might be necessary to protect European interests—and cautioned that American consumers could foot the bill for Trump-era trade policies. 💸
‘Trump Craves the Limelight’
Merkel didn’t hold back in her critique of former U.S. President Donald Trump, calling him an 'attention seeker' who uses tariffs as political theater. 🎭 'He wanted everyone looking at him,' she said, referencing Trump’s 2018-2020 trade moves, including 50% tariffs on EU steel and 25% on cars. 🚗⚙️
Unity Over Fear
The ex-chancellor stressed that EU nations must negotiate as a bloc if Trump follows through on threats to hike tariffs on $300B+ of EU goods by July 9. 📅 'Retaliation isn’t about severing ties—it’s about fairness,' she argued, channeling her signature pragmatism. 🤝
Why It Matters for Gen Z
Trade wars aren’t just for suits in boardrooms. 📈 Higher U.S. tariffs could mean pricier gadgets, fashion, and even travel costs globally. 🌐 Merkel’s call for cool-headed diplomacy? A reminder that economic policies hit wallets everywhere. 💼✨
