4d ago

Large majority of Europeans support retaliatory tariffs against US, poll finds

www.theguardian.com

Summary

A YouGov poll across seven western European countries found strong public support for retaliatory tariffs if Donald Trump imposes new US import duties, including a planned 25% car tariff.

Majorities in nations like Germany (68%) and France (67%) backed countermeasures, even while expecting economic harm.

The EU vowed a “robust and calibrated” response amid fears of a trade war. Most respondents disagreed with Trump’s claims that the EU treats the US unfairly.

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4d ago

Large majority of Europeans support retaliatory tariffs against US, poll finds

www.theguardian.com /us-news/2025/apr/01/large-majority-of-europeans-support-retaliatory-tariffs-against-us-poll-finds

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4d ago

Large majority of Europeans support retaliatory tariffs against US, poll finds

www.theguardian.com /us-news/2025/apr/01/large-majority-of-europeans-support-retaliatory-tariffs-against-us-poll-finds

5 comments

Can someone explain the VAT tax? We don't have VAT here, I've heard of it but never had it explained but I've Heard it makes American vehicles more expensive in places like Germany.
Edit to say thank you for the responses, very helpful
- VAT is (almost) the same idea as American sales tax.
  The difference is only how it is managed in wholesale, how it is displayed to consumers in retail and obviously the rates. Otherwise it's the exact same thing.
  European stores show the price including the tax, whereas American stores show it without taxes. The VAT rates are generally higher in Europe than the sales tax in states, but this is not the explanation for the car prices.
  Cars are more expensive in Europe due to other kinds of taxes. Germany is actually one of the cheaper countries for vehicles, because they don't have vehicle registration taxes, but they do have an import toll of 10% on cars. The same price increases happens the other way too. A European car will be more expensive in USA than in Europe for the same reasons.
- https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/taxation/vat/vat-directive/how-does-vat-work_en
  It is a tax on added value that is figured into the cost of the item.
  
  I read that, and there was a link for more information on how it is applied but it just sends you each country's main tax organization website where there is no obvious information on VAT. I'm left with questions, like is VAT applied to all transactions, or only to imports from other nations?
  
  VAT is applied to all goods irrelevant of origination. Think of it as a federal sales tax instead of a state sales tax.
  There are different rates dependent on the goods and some items are VAT free (again this has nothing to do with origin but to do with the product} i.e. I'm fairly sure that in UK children's clothes are either exempt or VAt at a lower rate.