EU Considers ’Nuclear Option’ Trade Measures Against U.S. as Tensions Escalate
The European Union is preparing to deploy its Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), a powerful trade tool likened to a 'nuclear option,' in response to mounting tensions with the United States. Diplomatic sources reveal that France and Germany are leading calls for measures that could exclude U.S. firms from EU public contracts and restrict cross-border investment flows.
Washington has set an August 1 deadline for resolving the dispute before imposing 30% tariffs on EU goods. The standoff stems from longstanding complaints about Europe's $1.97 trillion trade surplus in goods, though services trade remains in America's favor.