The EU estimates the U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum will cost the bloc around € 2.8 billion and its countermeasures from July 2018 aim to penalize imports from the United States to the same value, while also generating political pressure on Trump at home from industries whose export will be hit.

Amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Europe over trade and foreign policy, President Trump has nominated Mr. Gordon D. Sondland to fill the long-vacant post of U.S. Ambassador to the European Union. The EU job has been vacant since Anthony L. Gardner resigned in January 2017.

1. The U.S. market represents the first destination market for European exports of cars. This trade totaled € 38 billion in 2016. The value of German  car exports to the US amounted to € 22 billion in 2016.
2. Of the 1.3 million German cars sold in the US, more than 800,000 were made on American soil. German carmakers — including BMW and Daimler  made some 854,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2016,  That marks a four-fold increase on the 214,000 produced in the country in 2009

The tariffs on steel and aluminum further undermine European confidence and trust in the United States, and reinforce already negative views about Donald Trump. The row over tariffs will make it considerably harder for Washington and European capitals to cooperate on other key issues or when new crises arises.  

The Trump tariffs undermine the international institutional order which the United States once helped create. Trump has decided to act alone and weaken the rules-based economic system that Washington should be revitalizing.

Most Affected (in order of importance)

1. Germany
2. Netherlands
3. France
4. Sweden
5. Italy
6. Luxembourg
7. Spain
8. United Kingdom
9. Portugal
10. Belgium
11. Austria
12. Czech Republic
13. Finland
14. Slovenia

Not Much affected

1. Denmark
2. Romania
3. Greece
4. Slovakia
5. Hungary
6. Croatia
7. Latvia
8. Estonia
9. Lithuania

1. Hungary: 65.09%
2. Greece: 54.60%
3. Poland: 51.18%
4. Italy: 50.03%
5. Czech Republic: 49.60%
6. Cyprus: 35.38%
7. Slovakia: 34.34%
8. Estonia: 32.90%
9. Lithuania: 32.83%
10. Bulgaria: 32.65%
11. France: 27.09%
12. Austria: 26.00%
13. Finland: 24.78%
14. Netherlands: 22.20%
15. Germany: 21.98%
16. Spain: 21.15%
17. Denmark: 21.10%
18. Sweden: 18.58%
19. Ireland: 17.70%

Less than 10%

1. Guaranteed income for the poor: Poor families will get € 780 basic monthly income, provided recipients actively seek work, the parties say.

Source: Amnesty International

Author: Javier Solana

At this point, the best way to encourage Israelis and Palestinians to return to the negotiating table is to work to level the playing field. Because the US clearly won't do that, the EU must take the lead, sending a message that is as forceful as it is necessary, by immediately recognizing the State of Palestine.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem at the end of the 1967 War with Syria, Egypt and Jordan; the western half of the holy city had been captured in the 1948 Arab-Isareli war. Israel's occupation of East Jerusalem effectively put the entire city under de facto Israeli control.