The escalation of the trade war between the US and Europe is jeopardizing commercial relations worth approximately $9.5 trillion a year, including bilateral trade and investment, according to a report by the American Chamber of Commerce in the EU (AmCham EU). AmCham EU, which represents American companies operating in Europe, notes that the imposed import duties could negatively affect not only the volume of trade in the goods covered by them, but also harm transatlantic investments, which are much higher.
The volume of bilateral trade in goods between the US and Europe, including the UK, reached a record $1.3 trillion in 2024, and the volume of trade in services amounted to more than $750 billion, the Chamber of Commerce reported.
At the same time, according to its estimates, sales of European companies’ subsidiaries in the United States exceeded $3.5 trillion, and branches of American companies in Europe – $4 trillion.
“The damage to trade flows in goods is quite large,” said Malte Lohan, head of AmCham EU. – “The main risk is that all this will begin to affect other ties as well.
US President Donald Trump, speaking about US-European trade relations, mainly focuses on trade in goods, The Wall Street Journal reports. He has repeatedly expressed concern about the high US trade deficit with the EU, which amounted to $235.6 billion last year.
Trump has already imposed 25% duties on steel and aluminum supplies to the United States, particularly from Europe. He is also threatening to impose similar duties on imports of European cars, pharmaceuticals, and a number of other goods in response to tax and regulatory measures in Europe.
Last week, Trump also promised to impose 200% tariffs on European alcoholic beverages in response to the European Union’s decision to increase duties on imports of American whiskey to 50%. Alcohol producers in both the United States and Europe have already stated that the trade war will cause deep damage to the industry. The introduction of 200% duties will effectively close the US market to European wine producers.
The consequences of mutual threats and retaliatory measures could be even more severe, warns Dan Hamilton, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University and one of the authors of the AmCham EU report. The EU could retaliate against Washington by imposing taxes on American services, in which the United States has a trade surplus.
According to a report by the Chamber of Commerce, Europe receives more direct U.S. investment than other regions of the world combined. Meanwhile, European companies account for almost two-thirds of all direct investment in the United States.
The imposition of tariffs could make it more difficult for European companies to send components manufactured in the region to their own facilities in the United States, while retaliatory tariffs from the EU or another Washington trading partner could make it more difficult to export the final product from the United States, Hamilton said. Political uncertainty may cause companies to refrain from transatlantic investments.
“The ripple effect of the conflict in the trade sphere will not be limited to trade,” the expert emphasizes.
US President Donald Trump’s administration plans to revoke the temporary legal status of some 240,000 Ukrainians fleeing the conflict with Russia, potentially putting them on a fast-track deportation path, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing senior officials and three sources familiar with the matter.
The publication writes that this is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to revoke the legal status of more than 1.8 million migrants who are allowed to enter the United States under temporary humanitarian programs launched during the Biden administration.
It was previously reported that in January, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the suspension of the United for Ukraine program for Ukrainians fleeing war in the U.S. due to the January 20, 2025 executive order “Securing Our Borders.”
Having a baby in the United States has always attracted future parents from all over the world. In addition to the high level of medical services, this gives the child a unique opportunity to automatically become a US citizen, regardless of the status of their parents. But will the rules for granting citizenship change due to Donald Trump’s new executive order?
Donald Trump’s executive order to abolish birthright citizenship has sparked heated debate not only in America but around the world. This practice, known as jus soli (“right to the land”), has become the subject of litigation and political confrontation. How will this affect maternity tourism in the United States and the future of those who plan to give birth in America?
According to the decree, US government agencies must stop issuing citizenship to children born in the United States to parents who do not have legal status. However, this decree is unlikely to become law in the coming years. The granting of citizenship remains strictly regulated by the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, which guarantees the right to citizenship to every person born in the country.
The order has been subject to widespread legal challenges. The attorneys general of 22 states have filed lawsuits challenging the unconstitutionality of the decision. And the Federal Court in Seattle has already blocked the order by imposing a temporary moratorium. The lawsuits argue that citizenship is a right guaranteed by the constitution, and even the president cannot cancel it with a single decree.
Even if the moratorium is in effect or the decree is blocked by the courts, the issuance of citizenship to children continues as usual. For many parents, the right to citizenship is the main reason for choosing to give birth in the United States. A US citizen child receives privileges in education, employment, and social security, and also opens up the possibility for parents to obtain the right to reside in the US in the future through family reunification.
Giving birth in the United States is attractive not only because of citizenship. The high level of medicine, modern equipment, and qualified doctors ensure comfort and safety for mother and child. Many people also appreciate the tropical climate and relaxed atmosphere, which contributes to easy recovery after childbirth.
Service packages include:
– Assistance in choosing a clinic and a doctor.
– Arranging accommodation and transfers.
– Legal support for the preparation of documents for the child.
– Childbirth and medical support during pregnancy.
The company’s clients note the high level of service and care. For example, one of the mothers notes: “The whole process, from the organization to the delivery itself, was as comfortable as possible. We felt safe, and the doctors are true professionals. Many thanks to the AIST team!”
Despite attempts to change the citizenship policy, the likelihood of Trump’s decree being implemented is low due to strong opposition from the judiciary and the public. Court proceedings will drag on for years, and children born in the United States will continue to receive citizenship under the 14th Amendment.
Thus, there is no cause for concern for those planning to give birth in the United States. American citizenship remains a profitable investment in the child’s future, and the services of professionals such as AIST will help make this process as comfortable as possible
AIST, birth tourism, LABOR, TRUMP, USA
Europe should be prepared for a possible increase in tariffs on imports of goods to the United States, as promised by President Donald Trump, said European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde. The fact that Trump has not yet signed a decree to impose additional duties on all imports was “a very sensible approach, as total tariffs will not necessarily lead to the expected results,” Lagarde said in an interview with CNBC in Davos.
In her opinion, the new US tariffs will be more “selective and focused”.
“We in Europe need to prepare and wait in advance to see what will happen in order to respond to it,” Lagarde added.
At the same time, the ECB President noted that the regulator is “not too concerned” about external risks to inflation.
In response to a journalist’s question about the possible consequences of a new wave of inflation in the United States, Lagarde said that “accelerating inflation in the United States will be a problem for the United States, and that is where the main effects will be felt first.”
The ECB has cut rates by a total of 100 basis points in 2024, with the key deposit rate now at 3%. Economists expect four rate cuts of 25 bps each in 2025. Earlier, the Experts Club think tank, Brian Mefford and Maxim Urakin, released a video analysis on what changes are expected in US domestic and foreign policy under Trump, the video is available on the Experts Club YouTube channel – https://youtu.be/W2elNY1xczM?si=MM-QjSqGce4Tlq6T
Today, Donald Trump will officially begin his term as the 47th President of the United States of America. His possible actions and strategies in the international arena were the main topic of discussion at a meeting of experts organized by the Atlantic Council and Experts Club. Brian Mefford, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, and Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club, discussed key issues that will affect the geopolitical situation in the world, including Ukraine.
Brian Mefford noted that Trump’s first months in office will be focused on resolving domestic issues, such as the confirmation of his cabinet members in the Senate. However, the expert emphasized that Ukraine will remain an important issue in US foreign policy.
“Ukraine already has a special envoy, General Kellogg. Although his visit to Kyiv was postponed, it shows that Ukraine remains a priority. Its security is crucial for stability in the region,” Mr. Mefford said.
One of the key topics of discussion was Ukraine’s membership in NATO, which was first promised at the Bucharest Summit in 2008. According to Brian Mefford, this decision could have prevented many of the current problems.
“It was a serious mistake at the time. Russia used this uncertainty: first in Georgia and then in Ukraine. Now, because of the war on its own territory, the NATO issue for Ukraine is being postponed indefinitely. At the same time, there is a need for long-term security guarantees. Ukraine needs modern weapons, so the United States and European partners must remain reliable allies of Ukraine,” he explained.
At the same time, according to the expert, the issue of NATO funding became one of the most discussed during Trump’s first presidency, when he called on European countries to increase their defense spending.
“The United States spends more on defense than the next nine countries combined. Trump was right to insist that European countries spend at least 2% of GDP on defense. And now these requirements are being met. Increasing defense spending in Europe is in everyone’s interest. The alliance remains a powerful tool for ensuring stability,” Mr. Mefford emphasized.
According to him, the US withdrawal from NATO is currently an unlikely scenario.
Mefford suggested that the Trump administration will continue its tough economic policy towards China, including trade wars.
“China does not follow fair rules in international trade. Support for Taiwan will remain unchanged, as the United States has strategic interests in the region. Although China often demonstrates strength, its economy is on the verge of recession and its military power is exaggerated,” he explained.
The expert also touched upon the issue of sanctions against Russia, which remain an effective tool of international pressure.
“Trump imposed more sanctions against Russia during his previous term than Obama did. Their mitigation is possible only if the war ends. This is a long-term mechanism that cannot be ignored,” emphasized Mefford.
Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club think tank, in turn, emphasized the importance of Donald Trump’s election for Ukraine and the world and reminded of other important elections for Ukraine and the region in 2025:
“For Ukraine, partnership with the United States is crucial. However, we need to be prepared for different scenarios and strengthen our economic resilience and diversify our foreign policy, given the very important elections this year in Germany, Poland, Romania, Moldova, and Canada. The world is becoming very dynamic in the future,” said Maxim Urakin.
The experts’ analysis showed that Trump’s policy toward Ukraine will be shaped by both internal and external factors. At the same time, Ukraine’s role in global security will only grow, and international support will remain critical for security on the European continent.
The full version of the video is available here:
You can subscribe to the Experts Club YouTube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/@ExpertsClub
Atlantic Council, EXPERTS CLUB, NATO, SECURITY, TRUMP, UKRAINE, URAKIN, USA, Меффорд
TikTok is no longer available to users in the U.S., the result of a controversial law that forces the popular platform to go offline unless it separates from its Chinese owner, ByteDance, npr.org reported.
“When users tried to open the app around 10:35 p.m. ET, a message appeared saying, ‘Sorry, TikTok is currently unavailable. A law banning TikTok has gone into effect in the United States. Unfortunately, this means you cannot use TikTok right now.”
The post goes on to say that newly elected President Donald Trump has promised to “work with us on a solution to restore TikTok as soon as he takes office. Please stay tuned! ”
Around the same time, TikTok also stopped appearing in the Apple and Google Play app stores. A law recently upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court ordered Apple and Google to remove the service from their app stores. It also ordered web hosting companies, including TikTok’s internal cloud provider, Oracle, to stop supporting the app. Otherwise, they will face penalties that could reach billions of dollars.
