US President Donald Trump's decision to impose a new wave of tariffs on products from China, Europe and a wide range of Latin American countries has unleashed a political and commercial earthquake on a global scale. Reactions have been swift and reflect the scope and seriousness of a measure that, according to some leaders, marks the beginning of a new era in international trade.

Trump justifies his tariff offensive as an instrument to protect domestic industry, reactivate employment and contain what he considers unfair practices by historical trading partners. However, the international response has been one of widespread rejection, both because of the economic impact of the tariffs and because of the protectionist turn they represent in an interdependent world.

A battery of reactions

China, the central target of the measure, reacted harshly. The Ministry of Commerce demanded Washington the "immediate cancellation" of the new levies and warned that it will apply countermeasures to defend its interests. From the diplomatic sphere, the United States was accused of resorting to "protectionism and harassment", and urged to resolve differences through "fair, respectful and reciprocal" consultations.

In Europe, the uneasiness was overwhelming. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, spoke of a "hard blow to the world economy", although she left the door open to negotiation. In the same vein, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz denounced the decisions as "fundamentally wrong" and warned that they constitute a direct attack on the trade order that "has created prosperity all over the world".

From France, Prime Minister François Bayrou described the tariffs as a "catastrophe" for both sides of the Atlantic, while the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, denounced the measure as a return to "19th century protectionism", a formula which, he said, does not respond to the challenges of the 21st century.

Italy, through Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, expressed her rejection, although she also expressed her willingness to seek an agreement to avoid a "trade war that will inevitably weaken the West". From the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that his country's 10% tariffs will have both national and global consequences.

In Eastern Europe, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk opted for a pragmatic approach by pointing out that "friendship means partnership" and this, in turn, must translate into "reciprocal tariffs".

Latin America under pressure

The new tariff package also hits a number of Latin American economies: Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador are among those affected.

In Colombia, President Gustavo Petro warned on his X (formerly Twitter) account that the 10% levies could be "a big mistake". For its part, Brazil's Congress responded swiftly by unanimously approving an "economic reciprocity law" that gives the Executive the tools to respond to trade barriers imposed from Washington.

Other key players

In Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney was categorical: "We will fight these tariffs with countermeasures". For Carney, the tariffs "will fundamentally change the global trading system" and will directly affect millions of Canadian citizens.

In Asia, Japanese Trade Minister Yoji Muto called the US decision "extremely regrettable" and urged Washington not to apply the tariffs to Japan. Taiwan also expressed its deep concern, and although semiconductor exports were left out of the 32% levy, the government announced that it will enter into "serious negotiations" with the United States.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the tariffs "not the act of a friend" and described them as "totally unjustified". In Southeast Asia, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra of Thailand noted that her country already has a "strong plan" in place to respond to the 36% tariffs imposed by Trump.

The return of protectionism?

Trump's tariff offensive resurrects old international trade tensions. While the president defends his strategy as a necessary step to protect U.S. interests, most of the affected nations perceive it as a break with the principles of free trade that have governed the global system for decades.

The big question now is whether this new era of tariffs and retaliation can be sustained without generating an escalation of trade conflicts. Will Trump succeed in revitalizing the domestic productive apparatus or, on the contrary, will his tariff policy precipitate a cycle of economic isolation?

The world is watching. The answer will be written, as always, in growth figures, capital movement and market mood.

With information from AFP