Ursula von der Leyen suggests EU could join forces with the Asian-Pacific trade bloc as Europe tries to up its game.

For six months, Donald Trump has upended the global trading order, threatening and announcing tariffs, then easing them to open negotiations, while warning that punitive levies will be reimposed if the terms are not to his liking.

With just 13 days until the Trump-imposed deadline to conclude a EU-U.S. deal, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen decided the time for conventional negotiating tactics was over.

She floated the idea that the EU’s 27 countries could join forces with 12 members of the Asian-led Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership bloc (CPTPP) — which now includes the U.K. — to form a new world trade initiative.

The new grouping would redesign a rules-based global trading order, reforming or perhaps even replacing the now largely defunct World Trade Organization, she said.

Crucially, the U.S. would not automatically be invited.

  • Luffy@lemmy.ml
    61·
    1 day ago

    Its not bullying

    If some kid came to my dnd sessions and decided to start taking away the dice and telling me he will throw away my character sheet, I would tell them to fuck off too

    • nkat2112@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      7·
      19 hours ago

      I came here to up-vote this comment. Thank you. Agreed, the EU’s response is not bullying and the RPG tabletop metaphor is very appropriate and much appreciated.

  • VeryFrugal@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    14·
    23 hours ago

    Late at night, after a dinner of dumplings and duck legs

    I don’t know why but I find this opening hilarious.