Paris – “We cannot have a trade war and at the same time build European defense,” said Stéphane Séjourné, Vice-President of the Commission in charge of industrial strategy, on the public radio France Inter on Monday.

“The deal with the United States is yes for disengagement” from European defense “and to build European security guarantees in addition to NATO, but we cannot do it with a trade war on our doorstep. And national budgets do not have the capacity to raise defense budgets everywhere to 3% (of GDP),” he said.

“We will not be able to organize ourselves effectively, especially on the eastern front, if we also have a trade war that costs us enormously,” insisted Stéphane Séjourné, referring to aid to Ukraine.

And in the event of a trade war, should the EU respond by force? The commissioner remains cautious. Europeans themselves would suffer in the event of increased tariffs on American products, and “the trade balance with the United States is very favorable to Europeans,” he pointed out. (January 20, 2025)