Europe Rushes to Form Unified Response Ahead of Trump Tariffs – Live Updates

Further updates from President Zelenskyy.

He designated that Russia is deliberately targeting the Ukrainian energy infrastructure and called on allies to intensify pressure on Moscow to cease its aggression.

“Another series of intentional strikes inflicted damage on energy facilities – an FPV drone targeted a substation in the Sumy region, while a power line in the Dnipro region was damaged by artillery,” stated the Ukrainian leader.

Zelenskyy articulated:

This ongoing and systematic nature of Russian attacks clearly shows that Moscow disregards the diplomatic attempts made by its partners. Putin appears unwilling even to consider a partial ceasefire.

What is essential now is that we impose new and meaningful pressure on Russia to steer this conflict towards a resolution.

We can’t wait until April 11, marking a month since Russia rejected the American ceasefire proposal. Immediate action is imperative. We are prepared to collaborate with all our allies in the US, Europe, and globally in a constructive manner to achieve this vital objective—a just and lasting peace.

Here are some images coming in from Ukraine.

Russian assaults have caused damage to energy infrastructure in the Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions of Ukraine, according to President Zelenskyy on Wednesday.

A drone targeted a substation in the northeastern Sumy region, while artillery fire struck a power line in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, disrupting electricity for nearly 4,000 customers, he stated on X.

Ukraine and Russia had reached an understanding with the United States for a pause in attacks on each other’s energy assets, although both parties accuse each other of violating it. Thus far, Moscow has rebuffed calls from the US for a complete ceasefire.

The implications of US tariffs on Italian businesses could be substantial, especially for the fashion, pharmaceuticals, and food sectors, according to the head of the national industry lobby Confindustria. He urged European negotiators to engage with Donald Trump to mitigate further tensions and warned of potential advantages for China.

“We must closely examine the expected impacts of the tariffs Trump will announce. There is significant risk for Italy; our Research Centre is quantifying the repercussions, which will likely be extensive,” Emanuele Orsini commented in an interview with La Stampa, as per Reuters.

Orsini emphasized that sectors with higher export volumes—such as pharmaceuticals, fashion, food, and machinery production—would bear the brunt of the effects.

He further cautioned that if “Europe exacerbates its conflict with the US, China could reap the benefits” and expressed hope for continued unity within the European Union regarding its stance towards the US.

In response to the tariffs, the business leader called for a reduction in interest rates by the European Central Bank (ECB), new trade agreements with countries such as Mexico, India, Japan, and Thailand, and further enhancements for the European single market.

Orsini expressed hope that Italian business owners would refrain from contemplating relocating production outside of Italy due to the new tariffs.

As of Wednesday, European visitors to the UK will need to obtain a new online entry permit as the British government updates long-standing travel rules.

Travelers from European countries will now require a digital Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) permit, which UK officials claim will enhance security and simplify entry processes. A transitional period may last several months, according to AFP.

The ETA can be applied for online in the forthcoming days at a cost of €12 (£10); however, the price will increase to €19 (£16) starting April 9.

The ETA had previously been established for visitors from the US, Canada, and other visa-exempt nationals entering the UK, following the country’s departure from the European Union in 2020.

Phil Douglas, the head of the UK’s border force, indicated that this rollout is part of a broader strategy to introduce the ETA for visitors globally, asserting, “This initiative is fundamentally a security measure for our borders,” and ensuring that the launch on Wednesday is not expected to cause disruption.

The permit allows visits of up to six months and is digitally connected to the applicant’s passport, remaining valid for a period of two years.

The application process, accessible via smartphone or the government website, has been available to European nationals since early March. It applies to passport holders from approximately 30 European nations, including all EU countries except Ireland.

Applicants must submit a photograph of their passport and a facial image. The application process typically takes around 10 minutes, according to the UK’s Home Office.

In most instances, decisions are made within minutes; however, the government recommends allowing for up to three working days for processing.

This requirement also extends to infants and children, but passengers in transit who do not cross the UK border are exempt from the regulation due to pressure from Heathrow, which was concerned about losing transfer passengers.

This requirement does not apply to UK residents or individuals who already possess UK immigration status.

Europe is preparing for US President Donald Trump to announce substantial tariffs on global trading partners on Wednesday, forecasting cost increases and possible retaliation from various parties.

The specifics of Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariff outline are set to be disclosed in a White House briefing at 4 PM ET (10 PM CET, 9 PM BST).

Marc Ferracci, France’s Ministry of Industry, stated that Europe will react proportionately to the anticipated tariffs while ensuring that tensions do not escalate in any scenario.

“Europe has historically supported negotiation and tension reduction, because trade wars result in losses for everyone involved,” Ferracci commented during an interview on RMC radio.

The new tariffs are expected to take effect immediately following Trump’s announcement, with a separate 25% global tariff on auto imports coming into effect on April 3, according to White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.

Trump asserts that his reciprocal tariff plan is intended to align US rates with those imposed by other countries and to counteract their non-tariff limiting barriers that disadvantage US exports. Ambiguity remains regarding the specific format of the tariffs, particularly reports proposing a 20% universal tariff.

Earlier this week, Olli Rehn, Governor of the Bank of Finland and a leading policymaker at the European Central Bank, mentioned to Politico that the EU should brace for “proportional countermeasures” and respond to Trump’s measures.

His remarks align with those made by Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, who said this moment offers Europe a rare opportunity, and that it should not “back down.”

“It’s a pivotal moment where we can collectively take control of our future, marking a stride toward independence,” she stated.

The European Commission is preparing its response to these measures within two weeks.

Ahead of the US tariff announcement, European shares are trending downward.

The FTSE 100 index in London has fallen by 20 points, equivalent to 0.2%, reaching 8,614. Markets in Germany, France, and Italy have also decreased by about 0.5%. Julia Kollewe will provide the latest business updates here.

As always, we’ll continue to present the most significant news from across Europe regarding tariffs, Marine Le Pen, Ukraine, and more.