I know the enlightened conventional wisdom is that the trade war between the U.S. and Europe was a push, but I’d argue the U.S. actually came out ahead. Trump’

I know the enlightened conventional wisdom is that the trade war between the U.S. and Europe was a push, but I’d argue the U.S. actually came out ahead. Trump’s tariffs forced the EU to confront trade imbalances, especially around autos, and secured concessions on agricultural and energy imports, with the EU agreeing to buy more U.S. soybeans and liquefied natural gas. The U.S. also won a major WTO ruling on Airbus subsidies, allowing for tariffs on $7.5 billion of European goods, which put significant pressure on EU industries. Additionally, by pushing back on Europe’s digital services tax, the U.S. defended its tech sector and compelled the EU to negotiate at the OECD. Altogether, Trump’s approach didn’t just expose EU dependence on the U.S. market but also reset the tone, signaling that the U.S. would take a much tougher line on trade going forward—arguably positioning America for longer-term advantages.