economy
February 9, 2026
Want to stop Trump bullying your country? Retaliate
Faced with economic coercion, Europe has trodden carefully. My experience tells me that’s not enough
TL;DR
- Donald Trump has used economic pressure against allies, expecting them to yield.
- Countries like India, Brazil, and China have successfully resisted Trump's economic coercion through resolve, resilience, and retaliation.
- India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, rallied public support for defiance against Trump's tariffs.
- Brazil, under President Lula da Silva, adapted by redirecting trade to other markets when faced with US tariffs.
- China, under President Xi Jinping, retaliated against US tariffs by cutting off access to rare-earth minerals.
- Europe needs a similar strategy to counter Trump's economic threats, combining public resolve, economic resilience, and a willingness to retaliate.
- Retaliation is necessary because Trump's threats only stop when they become too costly for the US.
Continue reading the original article