European Union countries are pressing the bloc to prepare new and potent measures to hit back against U.S. companies, beyond retaliatory tariffs on goods, if a trade deal can’t be reached by the Aug. 1 deadline.
- U.S. officials said this past week they expect President Trump to demand further concessions from the EU.
- The shift prompted Germany, which had previously been more dovish on U.S. retaliation, to swing closer to France’s more confrontational position, according to people close to the discussions.
- “All options are on the table,” a German official said, adding, “If they want war, they will get war.”