FPÖ in the customs trap: dispute over Trump and Putin's attack course!

04. April 2025

WOM

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On April 4, 2025, the debate about the US Customs Policy under President Donald Trump in Austria is picking up speed. The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) has commented on these developments and not only justifies Trump's tariffs, but also the military aggression in Russia in Ukraine. According to a press release from the FPÖ, Europe and the Austrians are attributed to responsibility for the upcoming tariffs. Reinhold Lopatka, head of the People's Party in the EU Parliament, sharply criticizes this position and accuses the FPÖ to dance between the perpetrator and victim in its ideology. The conflict within the FPÖ about the attitude to Trump's trade policy is heading.

Barbara Kolm, an FPÖ National Council MP, expresses concerns about the US tariffs, while Susanne Fürst, another MP of the FPÖ, defends this policy. In these different opinions, Lopatka sees signs of leadership problems within the FPÖ. In addition, he emphasizes the need that the EU, as the largest internal market, must appear strong and confidently, which is promoted by the support of the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the commissioner of the trade Maroš Šefčovič. Austria strives for a negotiating solution with the United States and warns that a trade war ultimately only knows losers.

Trump's tariffs and their effects

Donald Trump spoke out on the same day with a speech in the Rosengarten of the White House and described the day as the "day of liberation", on which "the golden age of America" begins. He announced new tariffs to foreign products that come into force on April 5 with a minimum customs of 10 % on all imported products. From April 9, additional reciprocal tariffs are to be collected on products from countries that also raise tariffs on US products. The EU is likely to be affected with a total of 20 % tariffs. The new measures indicate a possible start of a global trade war, because the US economy could suffer from the tariffs, which could result in an increase in inflation and a decline in consumption.

The EU, which exports cars worth 38 billion euros every year, would be particularly affected. According to forecasts, EU sales to the United States could decrease by 30 %, which would have a loss of over 12 billion euros. In Austria, a GDP decline is feared by 0.2 %, and the existing difficulties of recessions could continue to exacerbate. In view of these risk considerations, the EU is prepared to take countermeasures that could include tariffs on US export goods such as motorcycles and jeans as well as possible exclusions of US companies from public orders.

long -term economic consequences for the EU

The effects of Trump's customs policy could not only hit exporters directly, but also companies that deliver raw materials and components to these exporters. Simulations show that a flat rate of 25 % on EU goods could reduce exports to the USA by half in the long term. Completes such as pharmaceuticals, transport equipment and motor vehicles would be significantly affected. The real gross domestic product of the EU could decrease by 0.25 %, whereby Germany would have to record even larger declines.

In order to alleviate the negative effects, the EU could strive for deeper trade relationships with other free trade partners such as Canada, Mexico and Japan. This strategy includes the reduction of non -collective bargaining barriers, improving the transport infrastructure and increased regulatory cooperation. Ultimately, this could help the EU to reduce its dependence on US demand and to expand exports to other markets.

In view of the current political and economic framework, the upcoming discussion about customs policy is an important topic that concerns not only Austria, but the entire EU and is also more complex through different positions within the FPÖ.

For more information on these developments, the articles from OTS , Kurier and diw to be consulted.