Macron to urge EU to use trade 'bazooka' in response to Trump's tariffs

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Politico (EU)

January 18, 2026 1:39 pm CET


French President Emmanuel Macron will ask the EU to activate the bloc's so-called trade "bazooka" — the Anti-Coercion Instrument — in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats over Greenland. “He will be in contact all day with his European counterparts and will ask, in the name of France, the activation of the Anti-Coercion Instrument,” Macron's office said on Sunday.

The instrument offers the EU various punitive trade measures that can be taken against trade rivals that try to threaten the bloc. Those measures include restrictions on investment and access to public procurement schemes, as well as limits on intellectual property protections.

On Saturday, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on European countries that oppose his plans to take control of Greenland. EU ambassadors are convening an emergency meeting later Sunday to respond to the tariff threat.

Macron responded later Saturday by saying: "Tariff threats are unacceptable." "No intimidation or threat will influence us," Macron said in a post on X. "Europeans will respond in a united and coordinated manner ... We will ensure that European sovereignty is upheld," he added.

Read more: https://www.politico.eu/article/macron-to-urge-eu-to-use-trade-bazooka-in-response-to-trumps-tariffs/

[Bayard]

1. Sounds pretty weak

What's your next option?

[Fiendish Thingy]

2. Read it again

“Limits to intellectual property rights”, so, suddenly iPhone technology becomes public domain in the EU…

Or X and Facebook get shut down across the EU…

Or Amazon can no longer sell or deliver merchandise in the EU.

[Aussie105]

7. And US bases in Europe get 'liberated'.

There are 38 U.S. military bases in Europe.
US personnel get sent home.

Forget intelligence sharing as well.
Cut off financial ties too. Recall loans, etc.

Bullying and hurting the 'other guy' can work both ways.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Here is a press release issued by the EU in 2023 when they enacted it

New tool to enable EU to withstand economic coercion enters into force

Some specifics - Protecting against coercion

Am thinking this may have been drafted to deal with Russia (particularly after their invasion of Ukraine) but it'll be ironic to use it against an ally.

[Aussie105]

8. Is an ally really your ally

if it acts like a bully?

Trump is so far out of his depth, it's not funny.

American bluff & bluster do not count for much elsewhere in the world.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. He comes from the school of thought that says

"there are no 'permanent friends' nor 'permanent enemies', only 'permanent interests'".

(see Muskrat)

[HariSeldon]

5. ASML in the Netherlands is the biggest gun

ASML is the only company in the world that makes extreme ultraviolet (a.k.a. soft X-ray) semiconductor photolithography fabricators. Retaliatory tariffs or outright prohibition of sale to US companies might make a noticable economic ouchie.

[flamingdem]

10. This

ASML or A.I. sputters to a stop.

[OldBaldy1701E]

14. Now now... don't threaten me with a good time! (n/t)

[LudwigPastorius]

13. The EU could conceivably say, you can keep your $665 billion worth of goods and services exported to...

our countries and try to sell them somewhere else.

[highplainsdem]

3. Trump Truth Social rant about this in 3....2....1....

[Miguelito Loveless]

6. As soon as the child Rapist

Invokes tariffs, the EU should invoke sanctions on all US military sales, and sell 5% of the debt they hold.

Stop appeasing the Rape & Murder regime. Make US businesses and Wall Street banks bloody for supporting fascism.

[flamingdem]

11. Stock market going for a ride next week

Down the roller coaster she goes..

[EllieBC]

12. Aren't there bonds held by numerous countries?

Cash them in and crash the markets.