Summary
Germany’s Economy Minister Robert Habeck criticized Elon Musk’s proposal for zero tariffs between the US and Europe, calling it a “sign of weakness” driven by fear of economic fallout.
Habeck said Musk should instead pressure Trump to lift the newly imposed tariffs, including those targeting the European Union.
Musk’s call for zero tariffs comes amid market chaos after Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, which included a 20% rate on the EU. The S&P 500 plunged 10% and the Nasdaq 100 entered a bear market.
The EU prepared retaliatory measures, while China and Canada vowed to respond. Analysts warned of rising recession risks amid escalating global trade tensions.
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Of course it is. I hope that’s not true. Where did you read this?
It’s all over media, ie https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/international-relations/eu-offers-zero-tariff-deal-to-us-but-prepares-for-trade-war/ar-AA1CsXUU
There was no need for tariffs in the first place. This was a unilateral trade war based on absolute stupidity on Donnie’s part and the desire to crash the markets so the rich can buy up whatever they like at a discount.
I would stay with absolute stupidity until proven there are hidden more complex interests there. But sure, it’s not impossible.
The EU started negotiations for a free trade agreement in 2015 during Obama, then the orange threw the proposal out in 2016. Now in 2025 he imposed the tariffs, then announced he’d be willing to negotiate new trade terms and the EU opened the drawer and got out that proposal from 10 years ago.
Basically what the EU always wanted in the first place.
Talk about reading the big book of the deal!
If you read the article you’d see he called it weakness because he’s throwing it as a moaning soundbite during a meeting with European leaders; and if he had any stones he’d level it directly to Trump - like the EU did.
So, you are saying, EU is doing a great courageous job proposing no tariffs after Orange attacked EU and whole world with tariffs first?
I’m not saying anything, I’m just relaying what the German economy minister said in context because you didn’t read it.
So you’re saying that the EU is amazing and everything they do is correct and good?
It’s easy when you can just make-pretend what other people say!
Well, he was responding to my criticism of EU indirectly hence my question which he can’t answer for some reason - rather he is not saying anything, not sure why the reply.
“So you’re saying” and “So you think” questions are never honest questions. They’re straw-men.
The zero tariffs thing?
That’s something the EU proposed the 1st Shit Show™ and is an off ramp they are giving Asshole. Don’t confuse it with capitulation. It’s something the EU has wanted for a while.
Sure and how did it go when Orange flatly rejected it? I’m sure Orange will now think twice before slapping more tariffs?