President Trump’s recent announcement to impose reciprocal tariffs on the United States’ trade partners, targeting perceived inequities such as the European Union’s taxes on American imports, comes at a particularly challenging moment for Europe.

On Thursday, Mr. Trump issued a directive for his administration to develop “reciprocal” tariffs by April, which would apply equal tax rates on imports that foreign countries levy on U.S. products. This action poses a risk to the post-World War II global trade framework.

This declaration arrives during a period of economic struggle in Europe, where major economies like Germany and France are grappling with sluggish growth, soaring energy prices, and inflationary pressures related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Europeans have already been reeling from the disruptions caused by the U.S. regarding NATO’s position on Ukraine, as well as claims of U.S. dominance in the realm of artificial intelligence.

“Within just 24 hours, the Trump administration has signaled a significant shift away from cooperation with Europe—both in terms of NATO and trade,” remarked Barbara Matthews, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. “The economic ramifications for Europe could be substantial.”

Adding to these concerns, Mr. Trump has highlighted a controversial issue: the value-added tax (VAT), a system used by over 140 nations to generate revenue from both domestic and imported goods. Experts suggest that his grievances could be leveraged to justify even steeper tariffs on imports from the U.S.