Those hoping that Donald Trump would content himself with tariff posturing are in for a disappointment. On Friday, January 31, in the Oval Office, the US president confirmed his intention to launch a global trade war, sending Wall Street into the red. He had waited a year in his first term. This time, it took less than two weeks, with the announcement of 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico and 10% against China. The executive orders are due to be issued on Saturday, February 1.

Trump cites three causes: uncontrolled immigration, trafficking in fentanyl – which these countries are accused of producing and smuggling into the United States – and the huge trade deficit. This is just the beginning, according to him The American leader has promised to impose tariffs on Europe too. "Am I going to impose tariffs on the European Union [EU]? Do you want the truthful answer or should I give you a political answer? Absolutely, absolutely. The European Union has treated us so terribly," said Trump, who constantly castigates German auto imports and wants to pressure Danish companies to impose his sovereignty over Greenland. "As an example, the European Union charges us 20% plus a VAT tax, very similar, and it costs us an absolute fortune. We are treated so badly. They don't take our cars, they don't take our farm products, essentially, they don't take almost anything. And we have a tremendous deficit with the European Union,"

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