Name: EU threatens use of the trade bazooka
Uploaded: 2026-01-19T23:41:05.206Z
Duration: 1 min 53 s
Description: US President Trump is threatening the EU with tariffs unless Greenland is handed over to Washington. EU leaders are pushing back — and talk in Brussels is now turning to a powerful response: the so-called trade bazooka.

US President Trump is threatening the EU with tariffs unless Greenland is handed over to Washington. EU leaders are pushing back — and talk in Brussels is now turning to a powerful response: the so-called trade bazooka.

Paris

The European Union is considering activating its anti-coercion instrument, referred to as the 'trade bazooka,' following US President Donald Trump's threat to impose new tariffs on eight European countries, including Germany, the UK, and France. French President Emmanuel Macron's aides have indicated he will urge the EU to use this measure, which could block American products from the EU market and exclude US companies from public contracts.

An EU spokesperson stated that the bloc is prepared to respond to protect its economic interests if the threatened tariffs are imposed. The European Commission can propose activating the instrument, but it requires approval from a qualified majority of EU states, and any concrete measures could take months to implement.

EU threatens use of the 'trade bazooka'

It's these images that have sparked US President Donald Trump's anger. Troops from eight European countries deployed to support Greenland. Trump is now threatening new tariffs against all of those countries, including Germany, the UK and France, starting February 1st. Aids to French President Emmanuel Macron say he will push the EU to activate the so-called trade bazooka, the first time in EU history such a measure would be used. Officially called the anti-coercion instrument, it's considered the EU's most powerful weapon in trade disputes. The measures could block American products from entering the European market, meaning it could shut off American enterprises from its single market consisting of 450 million consumers. US companies could also be excluded from public contracts. Additional levies on US software firms are also possible. At a press conference in Brussels, an EU spokesperson did not exclude the use of the bazooka. Should the threatened tariffs be imposed, the European Union has tools at its disposal and is prepared to respond because we will do everything necessary to protect EU economic interests. It seems after favouring a policy of de-escalation, the EU is switching tone. So what's next? The European Commission can propose activating the instrument, but it would still need approval from a qualified majority of EU states. Under the rules, it could take months before any concrete measures come into force. But even launching the process could send a signal that Brussels is ready to push back against its closest ally.

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