China's commerce minister, Wang Wentao, held two days of talks in Brussels with EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič as rows over rare-earth export curbs, electric-vehicle tariffs and a record trade deficit pushed the bloc's most fraught economic relationship toward a possible confrontation — with consequences for open, trade-dependent economies such as Luxembourg.
Donald Trump has threatened to slap 100% tariffs on goods from any country that taxes US technology companies, a move that would override the EU-US trade deal due to take effect on 4 July. Brussels called the threat unjustified. Luxembourg's direct US exposure is small, but a blanket transatlantic tariff would strike at the steel exports, industry and financial services on which its open economy depends.
Donald Trump has threatened a 100% US tariff on all French wine and champagne unless Paris drops its digital services tax, a move that pulls European exporters and the EU's collective trade defence — Luxembourg included — back into the firing line.