Former CDS-PP leader Paulo Portas stated that the tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on the European Union represent a “very harsh game,” emphasizing that for Portugal, it is a “serious issue.”
In his regular commentary segment on TVI news, which took place on Saturday, Paulo Portas mentioned that since Trump took office, “55 tariff measures” have been implemented.
“Every three days, there’s a new tariff or update on tariffs, and this creates neither predictability nor certainty. The week started with a high tariff on the world’s third-largest economy, Japan, the U.S.’s best ally in Asia,” he noted, adding that the same was done with South Korea, “one of the most innovative economies in the world.”
He continued: “Then followed another 20 letters to various countries mainly in Asia, some in Africa, with tariffs similar to those imposed on April 2 and later suspended. Trump decided to impose tariffs on BRICS members for being BRICS members. Among them are U.S. allies, for example, the Emirates and others the U.S. wants to win over, like India.”
Paulo Portas highlighted that following this, “came Brazil, which has the highest tariff with the least commercial explanation, and then Mexico and Canada, two of the country’s top three trade partners,” and on Saturday, the European Union “with a tariff substantially higher than the one in force since April 10, that is, 10%, and higher than the one decreed on April 2, that is, 20%, now 30%.”
The former CDS leader also noted that Donald Trump imposed “a tariff on a very essential good, copper, and promised another on pharmaceutical products of 200%.”
“First, he treats friends the same or worse than enemies. These are pure power relations. Then, nothing has any commercial rationale. In other words, the difference between America’s external trade tax and another country’s and good-faith negotiations seem useless because, before the deadline expires, or later, he decides arbitrarily. These are issues to be considered,” he emphasized.
And Europe?
Paulo Portas underlined that “the game is very tough with the European Union,” adding that “there are three commercial relations that have immediate global impacts”: “the U.S.-China relationship, the relationship between Europe and the U.S., and the relationship between Europe and China.”
“If we look at the weight these three groups have in global trade and the world GDP, it is very high, and therefore, anything that happens in these relationships has an impact. The second point is that Europe’s external trade tax relative to the U.S. is about 1.5% higher than the Americans’ relative to Europe,” he highlighted.
For the former CDS leader, in his “well-seen” perspective, the European Commission proposed a zero-zero agreement. Zero tariffs on one side, zero tariffs on the other. Or leveling external trade taxes.”
The former deputy considered that “this might still be a tactical move, but the scenario is worse than last week,” noting that Europe “made several reasonable proposals and showed signs of trust,” “acompanied the American discourse at NATO, facilitated the life of big American companies within the G7 framework, was willing not to tax American digital” and that the United States’ response was “this brutality.”
“What Europe has to discover is what, in what it produces and exports to the United States—we are a big commercial partner of the Americans—damages the American sectors that supported Donald Trump, for example, the technological leaders, and, coincidentally, it is in the sector where Americans have the largest surplus relative to Europe,” he said.
And Portugal?
Paulo Portas stressed that, regarding Portugal, “this is a serious issue.” “The United States is our fourth-largest partner. We export minerals fuels, petroleum oils, rubber, machines, and equipment, and also cork, food products, a wide variety of goods and services.”
“China put Americans on alert in commercial terms because it has American debt and rare earths, without which the American digital economy does not function. Europe has to find what places it in a more balanced position or prepare for a hostile time,” he stated.
It should be recalled that on Saturday, Donald Trump announced the imposition of 30% tariffs on all products from the European Union and Mexico, effective from August 1, in letters published on the platform Truth Social.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced today the imposition of 30% tariffs on all products from the European Union (EU) and Mexico, effective from August 1.
Lusa | 14:08 – 12/07/2025
Subsequently, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated that Brussels remains willing to negotiate with the U.S. to reach an agreement before August 1, after Donald Trump announced 30% tariffs.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated today that Brussels remains willing to negotiate with the U.S. to reach an agreement before August 1, after Donald Trump announced 30% tariffs.
Lusa | 15:21 – 12/07/2025
