US tariffs, Europe caught between uncertainty and blackmail: here's how to escape the trade war triggered by Trump.

The US president has let us know that starting August 1st, tariffs on goods we intend to export to his country will be 30%. Is the wait over? Maybe, maybe not. It wouldn't be the first or last time Trump says one thing and then does another the next day. For now, the only certainty is the US president's instability and —in his own way— greed. For wines, cheeses, various foods, fashion, vehicles, pharmaceuticals, etc., it's all up in the air. For us European exporters and for American consumers. As was already known, the US president tells us that if we respond by increasing tariffs on US goods arriving in the EU, he will increase his own tariffs by the same percentage . He's the one who decides; there's no margin for error... But even this method must be filtered through his subsequent thoughts. The summer is still long, and the quest for media headlines is already underway.

Aside from the initial statements of some weight, including the very calm one from President Von der Leyen ("We remain ready to continue working to reach an agreement by August 1st"), and those who hope to speed up agreements like Mercosur or with much more populous (though much poorer) countries like India... aside from this, the feeling one gets, both in Trump's words and in the reactions of his victims, is one of despair.

Trump because he hasn't yet achieved his goals of personal wealth and political power, his victims because—as we've been hearing for some time—the United States is indispensable. After all, weren't Ukraine in stitches a few days ago after the US/Pentagon announcement of a halt to military aid, and two days later, military cargo planes, loaded with what had been requested and more, were leaving American runways bound for Kiev?

Should we expect Trump to backtrack? No, American citizens, the main victims of his policies, aren't doing so, let alone us. We must acknowledge that this is the America that saved us from the Nazis and Fascists in 1945, and to whom we offered our territories and our economies so that it might be well off and make us well off as well. America has decided (at least until the next president, assuming there is a future election) that it no longer likes the wealth it has built with certain policies, especially in Europe but elsewhere. It is its right.

One thing is important in this new organization of ours (always temporary, mind you, even Trump dies): not to stand there with our hats in our hands... not so much for the gesture itself (if anyone is offended by the humiliation, they don't understand anything about politics), but because we know that even then we won't be sure we'll do what we need and, above all, what Trump asks, who doesn't even know it himself.

Meanwhile, please, if you've booked a trip to the wonderful United States, consider that, with all due differences, it's as if you were leaving for Russia today. At least think about it. We're sorry about California and elsewhere, but that's how it is today, and to stay on the American theme, "tomorrow is another day, and we'll see."