Worlds Apart
-
Erik Jones, director of European and Eurasian studies at Johns Hopkins University on European unity in the Skripal case
-
‘We could have a nuclear war by accident’ Professor Gerhard Mangott of the University of Innsbruck analyses Moscow-EU relations
-
‘Fidel trusted me’: Jon Alpert, American filmmaker on Cuba documentary he filmed for 45 years
-
‘The US is disregarding its allies’ – Jarrett Blanc, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for Intl Peace on US pull-out from Iran deal
-
‘The Americans are parents, but we say: We’re off to college’ – The Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs
-
‘Who is going to take care of Jerusalem? Us or Hamas?’ An interview with Dore Gold, Israeli diplomat
-
‘The US trade policy is a mess’ - Brahma Chellaney from the Center for Policy Research
-
‘The US is using racket diplomacy to promote their interests’ – former French foreign trade minister
-
‘Italy is a perfect storm for populism in Europe’ - Paolo Magri, director of the Italian Institute for International Political Studies
-
‘You need Russia if you want peace in the Middle East’ – ex-Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel
-
British media personality Katie Hopkins on Putin, London’s mayor and multiculturalism
-
Propaganda exercise or attempt at democracy? – Vyatka State University assistant professor Samantha Lomb on Stalin’s constitution
-
‘Iran is the main destabiliser in the region’ – Israel’s ex-Deputy FM Daniel Ayalon
-
‘Migration is necessary’ – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
-
‘Sport is what brings people together’ – Russian hockey legend Viacheslav Fetisov
-
Columbia University Professor of Economics Arvind Panagariya on US trade war
-
‘Football connects people’ – Legendary Croatian footballer Davor Suker
-
‘Views about women’s rights are changing in Afghanistan’ – Afghan MP Fawzia Koofi
-
Internet of Things Council founder: Internet of the future, benefits and challenges
-
Meir Javedanfar: America abandoning the Iran deal was, ‘a wrong move’
-
'The United States is on the declining part of the life cycle curve" – Ichak Adizes, author and management consultant
‘The US is using racket diplomacy to promote their interests’ – former French foreign trade minister
In light of the US imposing steel and aluminium tariffs on its allies, including the EU, the former French foreign trade minister Pierre Lellouche discusses the impact of trade barriers on Europe.
The world is “dealing with this trend of the US using their internal law as a racket diplomacy, in the old day, it was called gunboat diplomacy.” The US use their “domestic legislation as a way to coerce other countries and obtain economic advantages,” Lellouche says.
While China has been “doing the same, but in a different way,” Europe “has been too weak” and ended up “being beaten on the head sometimes by the Chinese, sometimes by the Americans.” Whether 28 nations of the bloc can agree on “tough measures” against Washington and Beijing, Lellouche says that so far the answer is “not really.”
The US’ actions, such as introducing tariffs and withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal have “an impact on our sovereignty,” Lellouche adds. “It’s a turning point now. If we are not capable to show that we must be respected, then I think it will be a deadly coup for the future of the EU.”
At the same time, Donald Trump’s administration “has a point” in pressuring China with trade sanctions. “When you have to protect your interests, you may take measures that are necessary to protect your interests,” Lellouche says.
Check out the latest edition of Worlds Apart to find out more.