The proposed tariff, which Trump claims is a response to the EU’s failure to adhere to a prior trade agreement, has drawn sharp rebuke from European officials. The Chair of the European Parliament’s Trade Committee, Lange, highlighted the unreliability of the U.S. side, urging a decisive EU response. Economists, including Fratzscher from the German Institute for Economic Research, argue that Trump’s actions exploit perceived European concessions. In light of these developments, the EU Commission has indicated it may pursue countermeasures to protect its interests.