Komrade Ursula von der Leyen represents the European Commission command and control authority, regardless of whether the individual members within the containment zone agree with the HQ in Brussels.
Komisar von der Leyen informs the union members that she has decided to pause the retaliation tariffs against the USA, based on the 90-day pause announced by President Trump. However, in actuality there’s not much difference even within the pause as the German/EU autos are still tariffed (25%) and the steel and Aluminum tariffs’ (25%) still apply.
The only gain from yesterday’s modification in the global tariff regime for the EU was a switch from 20% EU tariff to a baseline 10% tariff during the pause.
The total EU relief is 10% for 90-days; but that was enough for Komrade Ursula to mount her high-horse and claim magnanimity status.
According to von der Leyen, “if negotiations are not satisfactory, our countermeasures will kick in.”[SOURCE]
“I welcome President Trump’s announcement to pause reciprocal tariffs. It’s an important step towards stabilizing the global economy.
Clear, predictable conditions are essential for trade and supply chains to function.
Tariffs are taxes that only hurt businesses and consumers. That’s why I’ve consistently advocated for a zero-for-zero tariff agreement between the European Union and the United States.
The European Union remains committed to constructive negotiations with the United States, with the goal of achieving frictionless and mutually beneficial trade.
At the same time, Europe continues to focus on diversifying its trade partnerships, engaging with countries that account for 87% of global trade and share our commitment to a free and open exchange of goods, services, and ideas.
Finally, we are stepping up our work to lift barriers in our own single market. This crisis has made one thing clear: in times of uncertainty, the single market is our anchor of stability and resilience.
My team and I will continue to work day and night to protect European consumers, workers and businesses. Together, Europeans will emerge stronger from this crisis.
We took note of the announcement by President Trump.
We want to give negotiations a chance.
While finalising the adoption of the EU countermeasures that saw strong support from our Member States, we will put them on hold for 90 days.
If negotiations are not satisfactory, our countermeasures will kick in.
Preparatory work on further countermeasures continues.
As I have said before, all options remain on the table.” (source)
Before President Trump’s announcement on Wednesday, EU member countries voted to approve retaliatory tariffs on $23 billion in goods in response to the 25% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. Those steel and aluminum tariffs are still in place, but the EU cancelled their retaliation.
Did she take word salad lessons from AOC and Harris?
Yes
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha…. you’r killing me… hahahahahahaha
Agreed. Right??? lol
No.
From Annalena Baerbock.
Baerbock is a peach …
And by all reports heir(ess) apparent UN Secretary General.
Dear Gussie…
She is a failed WEF student. Needs to go. PDJT can make it happen if the Germans won’t.
ZING!!
Ba duh ba duh ba duh , what’s up,folks! lol I love it.
Legitimately guffawed when I read this commentary gold. Well done!
Nope. They all got their talking points from the WEF. All these women need to go now. And Macron and Steirmer. Close to being women…
Word salad is served when there are omissions, credit given where there is none; with lies interweaved. As SD puts it aptly “claim magnanimity status”
“the EU cancelled their retaliation.”
Yes, they did. Throwing temper tantrums like petulant children.
Then reality sets in and after evaluating the untenable situation they find themselves in, they reluctantly acquiesced to our VSGPDJT without out taking responsibility for their hasty proclamations.
PDJT is showing them who is the boss.
What does the VSG stand for?
Very Stable Genius
He maneuvered them right to where he wanted them. His approach of hammer / carrot worked first term and it will work again.
All number of talking heads making noise about Trump making a mistake and pulling back for 90 days due to confusion in the markets and such. Personally, I think he just followed his plan, which is reflected in the results so far. He’s prepped the battlefield and executing his strategy well. The man is so much brighter and smarter than the legislative hoods.
China is rapidly becoming isolated economically. The yuan is taking a dive. Winning feels good!
Dangerous Nerd,.
I agree he is operating according to plan, and not flying by the seat of his pants.
However, this isn’t all about China, its equally taking on the Globullusts, by most importantly shutting down USAID, which was the Globullusts method for exerting soft power, and simultaneously replacing it with HIS use of tariffs, as a powerful tool HE CONTROLS, and which instead of costing the U.S. Billions (as USAID did) actually brings in Billions.
The USAID spent billions, financing dissident groups to stir up color revolutions, in order to forward U.S. National interests…at least that was the idea..
President Trump just uses tariffs; he’s not directly interferibg in elections, at all.
However, he IS encouraging regime change, because both the CCP in China, and the Globullust wienies in charge of the EU, only retain their positions by buying the support of their people, with our stolen money.
PDJT uses tariffs to cut off that supply of $ for bennies in the EU, and employment in China, and Xi and Von layderhosen on on the same doomed boat, headed for Niagara Falls with a broken rudder.
They, and more importantly their regimes can NOT survive.
The USAID spent billions, financing dissident groups to stir up color revolutions, in order to forward U.S. National interests…at least that was the idea..
“U.S. National interests” not being the interests of the United States in whole, but only the Deep State and their allies.
Agree in all respects, Dutchman, and appreciate the insights you bring to the Treehouse.
His plan is truly global. It will affect the EU, Asian trading partners, and more important (Due to their being strengthened by us all these years!), China too. They are the biggest threat as I see it.
The scope and amount of $$$ spent (USAID, others) creating anarchy and weakening the country is shocking. Losing their jobs is the least of a range of punishments. The perps and leaders need to do hard time for their crimes. Blondie better get to it.
I agree DN.
The plan was… 1) baked in to flush-out China for isolation purposes & tariff purgatory & 2) to send a FAFO message to the rest of our back stabbing trading partners (using China as the example). Genius!!!
They watched what happened to China and took heed.
Trump spoke softly and carries a big stick.
It never mattered that Trump campaigned on Tariffs. He stated exactly what he would do for the whole world to see and hear. Why are they “reacting”? Why didn’t they simply get ahead of it?
1) TDS… they probably couldn’t stand watching or listening to Trump long enough to learn anything
2) They expected to be in a global war which Putin/Russia have been resisting in a most amazing and commendable way (If Putin was the way he is portrayed, we would be in a global war right now!)
3) They never expected him to carry through with it — THEY are politicians and THEY know THEY lie to get elected. Why would THEY think any differently about Trump? Trump, a man who has never been shown to lie but the media CLAIMS to be a frequent liar? Maybe the fools actually believed the media… which also LIES … for THEY(them) at their demand/request.
Do they know how weak and pathetic this makes them look to their citizens?
They didn’t prepare because they thought he would be dead
this is the correct answer.
Sad but probably true. Vicious animals all.
But you know? This is the silver lining of DEI policies… if they had COMPETENT bad guys, they would have been successful.
God is good praise be to our Lord Amen, Amin.
and we would still be seeing it everyday , all day long, on CNN, and every other traitorous outlet, the slow mo video of his head being blown apart. They were going to demoralize US with that video, but God said, No!
Exactly, their Hubris is mind boggling
“Tariffs are taxes that only hurt businesses and consumers”
Yet
They tariff the US
AND
Get NATO / UN / NGO Funding
They know exactly what they have been doing
They are getting Trillions for free
And
Cannot fathom anything could stop it
And anyone who has tried
Has been eliminated
Starting with JFK
They have never been in this position before and it outside their reality
Liars think everyone else is a liar too. Who would have expected Putin to have so much restraint? Putin has done a masterclass on his own and yes they did expect President Trump to be dead.
“Liars think everyone else is a liar too”
Most profound understatement of the thread so far
And they failed to read “the art of the Deal”, one of the tenents being, prepare fpr the worst.
”Do they know how weak and pathetic this makes them look to their citizens?”
The don’t care. The lie, cheat and steal to get elected and then excrete all over us once they have a mandate. ie Germany and the Chancellor elect.
“do they know…..weak and pathetic…”. You could say the exact same about our MSM…the $$$ must be greater than their self-esteem, because there could be no other reason to look so incompetent and like fools.
WHAT alternative coarsevof action is available to them?
Do you grasp what capitulation means?
Their economic model is to USE the trillions they steal from us, thru trade barriers and underfunding NATO, to buy the support of their populace, with fantastically maintained infrastucture, (chunnel, bullet trains, etc.) and generous pensions and healthcare, etc.
By demanding they up their contribution to NATO, at a time when (ostensibly) the wolf is at the door (Russia) while simultaneously forcing a hard reset, and at a time when resistance within their populace to their insane migration policies, and trans b.s. is reaching a boiling point,. is setting the stage for a political “flip” with Natiinalist Populist parties poised to take control in all 27 EU Countries. Not thru “color revolutions” but thru ELECTIONS.
Anyway, Von Lederhosen, Starmer, Macron, etc. have no choice but to resist, for all the good it will do them. They have ZERO good options, austerity measures in which they take away some of the largesse they have shared with their people is inevitable.
The peoples responce equally predictable.
Uh, Ursula, baby, where are you gonna get your $800 billion euros?
You think maybe you can order European citizens to work more? Work harder? Be taxed more?
With all your guests, I mean invaders, do you truly believe Europe is relevant anymore?
Your tourist industry is crashing. Your economic output is crashing. Your honesty is nowhere to be found.
How’s your power trip going?
Europe is toast. Irrelevant. Weak. Delusional.
It was nice knowing ya.
It wasn’t that nice knowing them.
Filthy grubby little pigs forever cheating us.
Let them succumb to their selfish inflicted misery.
I do hope you are referring to our wonderful, magnificent, masterful, open honest and 100% trustworthy political class. Most of us peons are minded otherwise as to their value.
Yes we Americans are rooting for you all the way! We hope these changes will help in dissolving the EU and you get your beautiful nations and cultures back!
Your political class our political class their political class.
Members of the same team.
Hopefully this moron helps facilitate splitting the EU. Then perhaps many of the European citizens can get their nations back as we did here in the USA. A commonwealth could make them a powerhouse.
Tourist industry- if I want to look at Muslims I can go to Detroit.
A friend recently took a river boat trip in Europe and said the airport in Paris was about 90% Muslim travelers. Last trip to Europe for them!
Count your blessings. Every time I flew in the United States over the last few years I always noticed groups of Mexicans, who looked like they were amazed and lost in their new surroundings, spoke no English and were obviously given good quality clothe$ that helped them look less foreign as well as had USA sports logos on them or USA Flags to make them appear native. (ironically this juxtaposition is what made them always stand out to me)
My assumption was that they were brand new here and being flown courtesy of the US taxpayer to destinations all over the country.
Sad
Soon Texas. Good times.
Minneapolis is certainly a competing city Fodor’s Most Islamic “American” city.
They come for Timmy’s free tampons.
I’ll take “be taxed more” for $500.
They are scared they could get Chyna’ed, bigly.
Are we drinking free Bubble-Up?
You don’t have to get high to get happy
Just think about what’s in store
When people start doin’ what the a be doin’
Then they won’t be booin’ no more
When a President goes through the White House door
Does what he says he’ll do
We’ll all be drinkin’ that free Bubble Up
And eatin’ that rainbow stew – Merle Haggard
Love me some Merle Haggard. RIP.
Where does the free Bubble-Up line begin?
If PDJT is the new cook for rainbow stew, where does that line start?
The old cooks for rainbow stew tasted like um…… poo.
Frau Blucher and the War Saw Pack finally found a tax they don’t like!
Yes. The group who has never seen a tax that they didn’t like are suddenly “concerned” about them having to pay a tax to have access to the US market.
Sundance,
I laughed out loud when I came to your last paragraph! And then that Trump’s smile in that photo topped it off!
Comrade Layen is taking the “principled” position of being for “free trade” (and against balanced trade) just like Comrade Harry Dexter White, the chief negotiator for the United States at the Bretton Woods negotiations in 1944 which established the International Monetary Fund.
In our commentary this morning on the American Thinker website “Forbears of Trump’s Reciprocal Tariffs” we summarized the actions of Comrade White, later found to be a Soviet spy, in those negotiations. We wrote:
“Free trade is a wonderful ideal”
Yes. As long as one country does not copy the other country’s products and undermine the price of the original.
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2025/04/10/background-details-of-trump-global-trade-reset-highlight-secretary-bessent-as-key-for-now/comment-page-1/#comment-11713010
Well, there aren’t very many products left that cannot be copied in some form, and I don’t have a problem with that…why should anyone have a monopoly? If Nation X can make widgets for less than Nation Z that’s business competition, and it’s up to the consumer to determine quality, easy replacement, Availability, etc.
Patent Law, for one thing.
There was a manufacturer in NY that developed and patented a certain specialized machine tool about 25 years ago.
They spent the money to develop and patent and bring it to market. It was priced at $15,000.
The Chinese bought one, reverse engineered/ copied it and started selling their clone in the US for $5000. Parts were interchangeable, despite supposedly having patent protection.
If things worked as they should, there should have been a $10,000 tariff placed on the Chinese copy.
Then you can choose which one you want.
Very good description of the need for intellectual property rights enforcement. Tariffs are a very necessary tool.
If there was a patent infringement by the Chinese on the American Patent, then it should not have been allowed to be imported into the USA..
How does a $10,000 tariff protect the US inventor / manufacturer?
Take that up with the people in charge back then. It is still occurring.
I.E.
Chinese replicas of Honda small engines and Yanmer small diesel engines on eBay
———————
It equalizes the price.
How many people do you know that practically automatically grab the less expensive item?
I laughed at the headline. My Boss said what’s so funny?
Nelson Muntz, prophet.
Interesting. Thanks.
She said, “It’s an important step towards stabilizing the global economy.“
Global economy? Not concern for the European Union’s economy?
She thinks she is head of the global economy now?
File under: The quiet part said out loud.
The European model is:
1. High energy costs – because after all with the world cooling this year, global warming is obviously the world’s most pressing problem.
2. Letting China gut-out European industry — because, in her words, “Tariffs are taxes that only hurt businesses and consumers.”
3. Impose value-added taxes on U.S. products while rebating them to European exporters — because the European welfare state is needed in order to lure-in Muslim immigrants.
4. Impose regulations and tariffs to keep out US agricultural products — because otherwise, as noted by John Maynard Keynes, European trade deficits would “soon produce a state of persistent depression.” [See the commentary that I linked to in my posting at the top of this thread.]
5. Manipulate the dollar-euro exchange rate — because European products must out-compete American products.
6. Impose huge fines upon U.S. tech companies — because Americans innovate and we don’t and that is not fair.
In short, the self-destructive European model can only be maintained by exploiting the U.S..
we should not negotiate with the EU as an entity – i want agreements with each sovereign (supposedly) state.
I think that is the intent, each country individually.
We can all hope this destabilization of the “global economy” will result in the demise of EU as members exit the unelected tyranny of the EU.
Wait until he scales back our role and expenditures in NATO (albeit, still spending more than any other member country) , along with repositioning troops from Germany into Poland and Hungary…
That should be interesting…
The President can save this step for later use.
In April 2022, Sock Puppet JoeBama Biden’s auto pen was used to deploy a large US Augmentation Force to the US Forces already deployed as part of our NATO commitment. President Trump sends the same message to the EU, Russia and Ukraine without reducing the US Commitment … by bringing home ALL of the Augmenting Forces and Nuclear Weapons sent to the UK.
Did you know that the UK has only 4 nuclear subs and only one is ever on patrol?
Did you know that the UK rents their Trident missiles from the US?
Did you know that the UK pays the US to do the maintenance on those missiles here in the US?
If Trump cancelled that contract, the UK would have warheads but no missiles to launch them with.
The more you know……
Yes, I knew these facts ….. Such a move would be cancelling a major NATO Commitment and possibly political suicide, a move that is not needed at this point.
Yes, these facts are known, but maybe not widely known.
President Trump should keep that contractual obligation going except in one case: cancel it should the EU use the backbone of NATO to make an actual nuclear alliance against the US.
While scaling back our NATO commitment would not necessarily be political suicide, a large scale reduction will cause more political headaches for President Trump than are warranted, and he would necessarily need to spend a great deal of political capital there that would be better spent handling domestic issues.
Scaling back/bringing home what Biden sent over would be a prudent move. Repositioning American weapons and “weapons advisors” from Ukraine to Poland/Germany would also be another.
On these two, Trump could very easily portray them as carrots to gain trust with the Russian bear at the negotiating table. The Augmenting Force could easily be portrayed as more than is necessary for the present situation. And so on.
With those in mind, I do think President Trump needs to have/develop a strategy for withdrawing/dissolving NATO in the near future. It is well past its expiration date, and is simply a military bullying device to run proxy wars with as currently structured.
How about the U.S. contributing the same amount as the lowest-paying nation and put a little pressure on them?
It would be better to make moves that give NO reasons for political enemies (Foreign and Domestic) to claim President Trump is pulling out of NATO or not living up to Treaty obligations.
Simply withdrawing anything sent after 2022 as an augmentation to US Commitments sends the same message to NATO as well as all parties in the Ukraine conflict, without actually reducing US NATO obligations.
I’m curious why you feel the U.S. should even stay part of NATO? I’m all for finishing commitments already made short term, but why should we continue to fund NATO at the levels we are?
The USA could always enter into a conflict at any time for support if the EU gets involved in something major but without the USA being a member of NATO. A NATO commitment which has outlived its necessity long ago after Russia was no longer a major threat and broke apart from its satellite captured nations. We have paid more than enough since WW2 to help Europe out with rebuilding and military defense. Time to end our day to day and on site military involvement funded mostly with our money.
If we were to insist on other NATO countries living up to their commitments as a contract, then most of them are in breach of that contract. We should insist that they all live up to the terms of the contract, or they should withdraw themselves.
Just as in 2017-2020, I started watching the currency markets and just as in that time period the USD vs Major Currencies has been trending DOWN during the Tariff Battle.
That means the 10% base and the remaining 25% Tariffs are actually hitting harder than those percentages indicate … and poof just that the US Consumer Price Index for March 2025 also trended DOWN.
Add this to growth in non-US Government jobs and the picture looks allot different that the one described by the Wall Street Whales, Rand Paul as well as the other political, academic and media allies of the Whales.
There is a comical irony with the Rand Paul quip … even 100% neverTrumper Senator Corney Dog Cornyn was smart enough to give a self-serving favorable interview with respect to the Tariff Policies.
Related:
Unexpectedly!! lol! Where do they find these expert morons?
Whoda thunk lowering fuel prices would result in lower costs?
https://www.newsmax.com/finance/streettalk/inflation-fed-rates/2025/04/10/id/1206383/
The current trends do not necessarily include lower fuel costs YET, which is an even better sign. Those costs are still being wagged up and down by the resistors … with the exception of those fuel outlets selling fuel subsidized by the Foreign Supplier’s Government.
This has been the case at least here in Collin County, TX among the 10-15 Fuel Outlets I see on a daily basis … costs per Gallon of Regular and Diesel have been wagging up and down around the $3.00 per gallon and $3.10 per Gallon respectively …. when those same prices were on a steady DOWN trend at the $2.90 mark before the resistance to President Trump started in earnest.
.
switch over to summer fuel is supposedly the reason for the higher cost,even though price per barrel is down
BS this tripe has never been shown to be true.
How can prices go up if the trend is down, especially down by the supplier of that Venezuelan oil to specific gas stations in the US.
It was NOT true 2017 to 2019.
One other corollary Index that was reported about 1-week ago that also belies the “experts’ reporting” … Consumer buying is trending UPWARD, which means the Consumer Confidence is trending UPWARD, which is 100% contrary to the expert business media reports.
Good point. I did notice that gas dropped here about 50 cents BEFORE the election (reduced the pain for Kamala) but you are right.
Perhaps just the knowledge that Trump is in charge, instead of Kamala, helps to improve consumer confidence.
LOL. If this is true, then why 80 years of tariffs on us? She’s been advocating about as long as the moment she realized the EU was about to FAFO.
“Tariffs are taxes that only hurt businesses and consumers. That’s why I’ve consistently advocated for a zero-for-zero tariff agreement between the European Union and the United States.”
Drop Boxes. Computer CheatWare. Mail-In Fraud. the Census. There are many ways to Rig Elections.
Same with Trade. Trans-shipments. VAT Taxes. Currency Manipulations, etc.
Tariffs aren’t enough, lady, but thanks for playing!
funny the other day vsgpdjt mentioned someone being yippy don’t remember right off hand who it was.schiff for brains maybe.anyway.that perfectly describes von dur leyen.she is like my sister in laws chihuahua.if your walking away it is all yip yip yip at your ankles, until you turn around then it runs off kinda mumbling with it’s tail between it’s legs.turn your back and they come right back yipping.
LOL…..now that imagine will forever be in my mind when I see her on TV!
Are these leaders dumb as they act or acting for the population?
“That’s why I’ve consistently advocated for a zero-for-zero tariff agreement between the European Union and the United States.”
Shut up, Ursula you lying liar. If this statement was true, why did the Euro-weenies wait until PDJT47 slapped them around to “advocate for a zero-to-zero tariff agreement” with us? They could have done this at any time since the EU formed.
I believe it is best if we make agreements with individual countries, and if the EU doesn’t like it, then those countries have a choice: the U.S. and prosperity, or the EU and socialist servitude.
The only zero in this equation is YOU and your globalist pals.
Agreements with nations, not collective nations. The European Union is NOT a nation but a thug bargaining unit, professional negotiator for member countries. Negotiate with countries, not unions. In the end, if USA stands to this, the EU ceases. The EU was created to get edge over and undermine USA. EU is thug sindicate.
“Tariffs are taxes that only hurt businesses and consumers. That’s why I’ve consistently advocated for a zero-for-zero tariff agreement between the European Union and the United States.” – van da lingy
Lot of deception going on in that statement. The liberals (and dims in our Congress) are intentionally conflating taxes and tariffs now. The tariffs are designed to protect American consumers and businesses and hurt EU businesses and consumers.
“Taxes” has an immediate negative impact upon the hearer’s ear and the dims are calling the tariffs taxes on American consumers which is not true unless the consumer insists upon buying an import item subject to a tariff. Most reasonable and prudent people will buy a domestic equivalent or alternative or not buy at all.
The other deception is the EU’s stated desire for a zero to zero tariff agreement by the EU with the USA.
The problem is that is not a level trading field, the EU has VAT and export subsidies and subsidies to its manufacturing. The workers in the socialist EU have many government handouts which the companies in the EU do not have to foot the bill for!
IOW if we the USA trade zero for zero tariffs with a socialist government it is not level fair trading because of the government subsidizing the workers.
The EU is one of those ‘social constructs’ we keep hearing about.
She’s a parasite.
Yes!
So, basically the EU saw what President Trump did when China did their retaliation tariff increases where President Trump then upped the tariffs even higher against China, an thought, oops? Time out? Let’s see how hard President Trump’s hardball game with China is before we join the fray?
It’s obviously been confusing for Von der Leyen to realize that she, and indeed most of the world, is not the Main Character in this reset, but after Sect Bessent’s explanatory presser yesterday, it was made clear who the real target is. This should’ve been obvious all along. As Arnold Schwarzenegger said long ago, he couldn’t stay in Europe, because everyone thinks so small.
I’m ok with it as long as the E.U. takes their place at the BACK of the negotiation line (with China).
The US is the premiere, global consumer market. Privately, the EU et al are probably scrambling trying to figure out how they’re going to fund all their social programs and defense.
I used to think Socialism was the only symbiotic ideology but a great number of other nations have revealed their reliance on US capital markets and largess in the past few weeks.
Sadly, it will probably be services cut for their own citizens rather than the immigrants taking over their countries.
Yep, another good thing as their citizens need to smacked in the head with this phenomenon to drive home the point that they elected the idiots who bow to the unelected EU Commission.
The same goes here, in the US, for the democrat run urban areas … the feeling of betrayal is starting to appear among those who are not paid and recruited protestors.
Time for them all to learn that living in la la land has consequences.
I’m reminded of Ronald Reagan, “Trust but verify.” Everything! If the EU promises to play nice, that’s great, but let’s see them actually play nice. After two and a half years in West Germany, keeping the Russkies out of Western Europe, I don’t trust any of their governments. Just like here, they consist of old money, running everything behind the scenes, and they don’t want Trump in their club. The most powerful elites around the world have never wanted to let Trump into their club. This is biting them in the back side, Big League.
“That’s why I’ve consistently advocated for a zero-for-zero tariff agreement between the European Union and the United States.”
LOL@Consistently. Yeah, since 6 days ago. EU is about to learn a hard lesson.
All those once independent countries in Europe are not independent anymore.
All for one, one for all.
Enjoy your demise.
AS Sunny D says, “Trillons of $ are at stake”
If only everyone would simply stop listening to her, stop showing her picture, and forget about her, she would not even exist.
Does she sleep with her broomstick handy? Her globalist attitude is despicable.
We saved Europe too many times, in too many places. Is it too much to require they actually work as hard as Americans? You can keep your champagne, cars and chocolate.. well, maybe not chocolate…we’ll discuss.
Chocolate and bacon should be in separate categories. They are essential to life.
Yes. 😂
She keeps her coffin handy. She reminds me of a vampire!
Probably the most ironically comic and inaccurate statements from the Article by von der Leyen is the following:
From the Article … per von der Leyen …. “At the same time, Europe continues to focus on diversifying its trade partnerships, engaging with countries that account for 87% of global trade and share our commitment to a free and open exchange of goods, services, and ideas.”
How can one have “protective tariffs” and a “free and open exchange….” of anything???
As is the constant alluding to not needing the US as they’ll just do business with everyone else. If there were a magical nation or nation-combo with a huge, willing consumer class to replace the US, the resentful Euro elites would’ve side-lined the US to do business with them, long ago.
^^^THIS^^^
The trouble the EU has…is that the ONLY other population centers on Earth which could begin to qualify…are India and China.
India – has no developed middle class infrastructure, as it has a caste system in place which resists it.
China – has no developed middle class infrastructure, as that is a threat to its control over the citizenry.
If either of these were genuine options, the world would have told the US to eff off decades ago.
Whether one likes the US or not, there is NO substitute for the US consumer market, nor will there be for the foreseeable future.
Either China/India have to step up, or the US must be collapsed, to make von der Leyen’s statement have any truth or authority.
Guess which one they are rooting for?
I think the 125% bump on Chyna may have gotten her attention as well.
Free Nations from EU bondage by refusing to deal with the EU. EU is NOT a country. Deal with individual countries only. Not non-country EU. Not with organizations. Respect sovereignty, not collectivism.
Me thunks that is PT’s plan.
I wonder though, the EU was created to be a trading block so they had more clout with their trading policies to compete with the USA, Russia, China, etc. Must the countries in the EU trade under the collective laws and policies of their union on trade? Can they make individualized trading agreements? If so, what’s the point of their European UNION anyway?
Komrade Ursula should be reminded of the Marshall Plan and the Berlin Airlift.
FAFO
I’m guessing she finally got the FO message.
I’ll give Ursula some creds here, she’s in a can’t-win situation. Reading her words, it sounds like she’s listening to the business community on this and that’s the wise move and the only way out.
Stating that she has always been for zero tariffs, in a moment when all of the EU and the world is watching is pretty BIGLY. I don’t recall hearing that from her before, but if its true, she’s already solved half the problem.
I think she had to sprinkle in the compulsory retaliation tough talk in order to placate the hothead business-illiterate leftists, union goons, and haughty monarchs.
She’s smart enough to see where this is a going. Like a pilot with a distressed aircraft, she’s looking for a smooth landing spot.
Oh, and that Trump pic screams “I don’t want to say I told you so, but I told you so.”
She could retire and go home and quit bothering the whole world.
Brussels is very very VERY weak right now. So weak that the people they are oppressing might decide to stop trying to fix their problems with votes and resort to less pleasant measures.
Die Führerin is an ass.
Rather, correctly: “Die Führerin ist ein Pferdearsch .”
Pity the poor horse.
She paused cause she see’s what’s happening with China and I assume Canada who have retaliated…It could be a lot worse for the EU and she knows it…Trump isn’t fooling around, the EU will get hit more down the road. I think the Prez is changing his strategy to picking them off one at a time so the markets don’t crash or panic as they have been.
shss! don’t tell dumboleyan
If anyone in the Trump Admin or circles is reading this, get Trump to say “Tariffs for THEE but not for ME” is what the rest of the world says.
Oh Europe, we’re shaking in our boots. Thank you for the relief./S
I’m curious as to Treeper opinion on the following question:
Who in the E.U. besides Hungary might be/become worthy of being business partners with us?
Poland (if they can replace their current leadership)?
If allowed to have free elections? Romania and Poland
If Italy can maintain her new-found backbone AND control her “refugee” problem…Italy would show promise. But…these are big IF’S.
If Russia can be negotiated with…so can Serbia.
Slovenia is making efforts to follow Hungary’s lead…Slovakia, not so much.
The rest of central/east Europe is a question mark.
The “greater” nations of western Europe – Spain, UK, France, and Germany – basically need to hit rock bottom.
But the 5 nations at the top would make an intriguing core nucleus to build bilateral partnerships with.
Who elected this mouthpiece to speak for Europe? Answer…..NOBODY!
URSULA EXPLAINS IT ALL
“I welcome President Trump’s 90 day pause as an important step towards stabilizing steps as well as three-legged stools yada yada, because I think we can all agree it is so difficult to sit on those darn things.
It is clear to me that clear, predictable conditions are essential for clearness and predictibility, yada yada, in order for supply chains to function on our bicycles without falling off those little sprockets.
It is also important for commoners to understand yada yada that tariffs are tariffs and taxes are taxes…except when they’re not! yada yada. That’s why I’ve consistently advocated for zero calorie soda pop to be provided in all future negotiations between the European Union and the United States.
The European Union remains committed to the construct yada yada of constructing constructive negotiations with the United States, as opposed to constricting constricted negotiations with the goal of achieving frictionless and downright slippery something or other.
Be assured that Europe continues yada yada to focus on diversifying as well as de-poetryifying its trade partnerships, while engaging with countries that and share our commitment to whatever it is we’re committed to, yada yada.
Finally, we are stepping up our work yada yada, to lift barriers or tear them down, or build new ones or…okay, I don’t remember what we’re supposed to do with those barriers, as well as putting everything on the table, because in our negotiations nothing is off the table, absolutely fricking nothing!
In conclusion, my team and I will continue to work day and night as well as night and day, yada yada to be faster than a speeding bullet, to leap tall buildings in a single bound and to work for truth, justice and the American way…wait, no!
I meant to say the EU will adopt countermeasures, or adapt them, or whatever, that lends strong support to and from our Member States…and I forget the rest…
Wait, now I remember…If negotiations are not satisfactory, yada yada, our countermeasures will kick in
and preparatory work in preparation of further countermeasures continues.
I hope I’ve made myself clear!”
You wait till President Trump makes deal with each country independent from the EU.
He is going to rip Ursula a new one.
Their EU is dead in the water, and the Elites are flailing around for a life preserver.
They were happy to cancel after seeing what happened to China. Trump not playing around. No one else wants the China treatment. Spank one kid and all get the message:)
China doesn’t just need to be spanked.
She needs to be taken behind the wood shed, with a can of whoop ass generously and liberally applied.
Take down the WEF’s darling backstop. It will leave the EU nothing to fall back upon.
Edit: if this is successfully done, Trump will have EVERYONE’S full attention: Russia, India, the rest of the BRIC’s, EU, and the fledgling western African economic zone trying to align itself with the BRIC’s.
Agreed – no one will want what is happening to China right now…particularly if Trump’s trade policies cause China’s government to struggle to maintain power/collapse
Komrade Ursula still thinks she will be negotiating for the EU group.
She will be “thrilled” when the bespoke bilateral agreement approach sinks in.
Love it!
If tariffs only hurt consumers & businesses then why does the EU have tariffs?
Komrade UVdL is peeing on her own shoes & telling the citizenry that it’s raining.
When Trump parses out each one of the countries from the EU and separately applies tariffs to them, it will be game over for Ursula, the WEF and NATO.
It will also be game over for the BRIC’s…
I’m shocked, shocked I tell ya!
Notice no one in the media accuses her of being chaotic, constantly changing her mind and stance, or bringing confusion and uncertainty to the world’s(or EU’s) economies as they do with PT’s every move.
Many would say; “well she is just responding to PT’s on again, off again tariff changes”, but in fact it is PT(America) that is finally responding to EU’s unfair, non-free, non-reciprocal trade practices.
And of course PT has indeed changed tariff amounts and time frames…to nimbly and intelligently adapt and address other nations responses and actions with Trumpian speed. That’s what the best businessmen and country leaders do! Most governments(ours included) are still shoveling coal into their 100 year old ship of state’s furnace to heat the boilers while trying to steer with the same old stuck, rusty political rudder that can’t change course in time to not hit the dock or run aground.
They’re to busy trying to win the narrative war to notice that their ship of state is foundering and sinking. Just saying “our ship of state is sea worthy and anyway we have plenty of life boats” is not the same as actually having a sound ship and actually having those lifeboats!
I hope some of that babble makes sense! <grins>
Buyers of new German vehicles should note that some 30% of the price they pay includes that country’s VAT and Climate taxes, neither of which even exist in the US. Nice “business” if you can get it..
There’s just people I can’t stand to look at, she’s one of them.
An unelected bureaucrat is saying “Help”. Think about it. The U.S. (i.e. PDJT) needs to kick her to the curb. Hard and fast. Then move on to the next unelected EU bureaucrat and dispose of them. Then the next. Let each country be the voice to PDJT.
I hesitate to use the word nation because nation implies homogeny. No European country is now homogenous.
May PDJT demand each EU country demand honest and fair elections, or else.
Would be fun were PDJT to negotiate separate, individual deals with favorable EU members such as Hungary, EU on the whole be damned.
do not forget…SLOVAKIA …