Trump Tariffs: Certainty of uncertainty for European Workers – Now with a 15 % Tariff Deal

As Europe winds down for summer, President Trump has again raised the stakes—this time striking a framework trade deal with the EU over the weekend. Under the agreement, most European exports to the U.S. will face a 15 % tariff, down from an initially threatened 30 %–50 % range. While this lowers the immediate risk of a full-blown trade war, it introduces a new baseline of uncertainty for multinational companies and their workers.

And that’s really the only certainty: that we all, consumers and producers alike, must deal with uncertainty and instability. And although the stock markets seem to have recovered from the initial shock, companies remain primarily cautious and waiting.  

And this, in turn, has consequences for European employees of internationally operating companies.

Most of these companies are currently adopting a wait-and-see attitude. Investments are being postponed or cancelled. Vacancies are not being filled, and agreements on employment, salaries, and working conditions are proving difficult to reach. EWCs are currently confronted with these challenges on an almost daily basis. Hiring freezes not only hinder growth but also increase workloads for existing employees, which in turn can lead to increased absenteeism, turnover, and ultimately a loss of product quality and company reputation.

Where companies tend to resort to such short-term solutions, it’s up to EWCs to timely address the potential risks and, in close consultation with management, to seek long-term solutions in a sound and constructive manner. Solutions that don’t shift uncertainties onto employees but actively involve them to ensure a truly tariff-resistant organization. EWCs can and should play a crucial role in this. Especially with the certainty of uncertainty, it’s crucial that management and employees maintain dialogue. The EWC is the ideal platform for this. 
With or without Trump 😉

And on this happy note I’ll leave you for now.
Pemota, together with our partners and our customers, has accomplished a great deal over the last seven months. And even though we don’t have a Works Council at Pemota (since I’m employee as well as CEO ;-)), we still believe that all success is dependent on having a healthy work/life balance for all involved. So we’re off. See you after the summer vacation.