Top economy officials of several EU states say they won’t shun from striking back at the US if the sanctions that would hit Russia’s energy sector and its European partners are signed by Donald Trump. Some suggested EU’s Russia sanctions could also be lifted.

The sanctions bill, approved by the US Senate and sent to President Trump for his signature, would immediately affect Russia-EU projects such as the Nordstream II pipeline project. The companies doing business with Russian oil and gas firms include the likes of BASF, Shell, Engie, OMV, Wintershall and Uniper.


German economy minister Briggette Zypries on Thursday hinted at the possibility of a full-fledged trade war erupting between Europe and the US, if the latter enforces sanctions affecting European companies.

“There is a possibility of counter-sanctions, which the World Trade Organization foresees in this case,” Zypries told German broadcaster ARD, as cited by Die Welt.

Describing Berlin’s response to the possible sanctions as “harsh,” the German media outlet suggested the officials were ready for a “trade war” if necessary.


There is an understanding that with the new restrictive measures the US is trying to push forward its own interests in the energy sector, Die Welt quoted Michael Harms, Managing Director of the German Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations, as saying.

"The sought [after] sanctions against pipeline projects are designed to boost energy exports from the US to Europe, create jobs in the US, and strengthen US foreign policy," Harms said.

Following the adoption of the US bill targeting Russia, Iran and North Korea by the US Congress, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel strongly criticized the American lawmakers’ decision.

"Our stance remains that we will not accept any extraterritorial use whatsoever of these US sanctions against European companies. President Trump knows that, and so do the State Department and the US administration. Sanctions policies are neither a suitable nor an appropriate instrument for promoting national export interests and the domestic energy sector," Gabriel said in a statement issued Friday.

Saying "what happens next is now up to President Trump," the minister once again urged Germany’s American partners "to coordinate our policies towards Russia closely."

Nothing more than a desire "to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine" stands behind the European sanctions on Moscow, the German foreign minister said, stressing that "if the Russian leadership makes a move and we are finally able to make progress as regards implementing the Minsk agreements, it is also conceivable that these sanctions will be gradually eased."

Austria has taken a similar stance, with the president of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Christoph Leitl, stating that "Europe must not let this [sanctions] happen."

Speaking to the Austrian national public broadcaster, ORF on Friday, the politician said that Americans wanted to muddle the economic relationships between Russia and Europe, to press with their own interests in trade, economic and energy policy.

"If these sanctions are implemented, there is no doubt that Europe will be firmly united [against them]," Leitl said.

He added that the situation could then be used as an opportunity to lift EU sanctions against Russia, Austria Press Agency reports.

Earlier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman and Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern issued statements lambasting the American bill.


Kern and Gabriel penned a joint statement concluding that the fallout from the sanctions “would add an absolutely new and highly negative aspect in relations between the US and Europe.”



https://www.rt.com/news/397902-eu-trade-war-us-sanctions/

The EU is beginning to grow some balls, the way they expressly carried out Uncle Sam's bidding in the past when it was even clear it would hurt them more than the US still baffles me. Could it be that the US spy agencies ve somethings on the EU leaders which has made them to be compromised so easily...

MONITZ:
The EU is beginning to grow some balls, the way they expressly carried out Uncle Sam's bidding in the past when it was even clear it would hurt them more than the US still baffles me. Could it be that the US spy agencies ve somethings on the EU leaders which has made them to be compromised so easily...

Becos they are America puppet
Italians are always pro Russia
Germany now is having serious problem about Russia becos Germany need Russia more than Russia need Germany.

US will secretly send terrorist network to EU. They have been doing that in the past few years

The EU has got it coming all along. That's the prize for dining with the Devil. The real enemy of America are the Satanic private interest/establishment that controls the country. They will do everything to ensure they keep their business. A Russian-Trump American pally is bad for business. So, everything must be done to widen the rift, even if it include upsetting our European counterparts.

That's America state of the Establishment for you - a one way route to nihilism.

seunny4lif:

Becos they are America puppet
Italians are always pro Russia
Germany now is having serious problem about Russia becos Germany need Russia more than Russia need Germany.

I know Germany has always been pro-Russia bt wat surprises me is how the economic powerhouse of Europe could allow herself be dictated to by an Uncle Sam that is so many miles away ,I just hope they re able to sustain the present tempo of trying to reassert themselves..


The most annoying thing is that these sanctions ve little or no impact on Uncle Sam the way they do the EU, Uncle Sam shouldn't be allowed to have her way at all time because this is a reason they feel they re the world police and decide who gets what nd whatnot..A multi-leadership world is safer than a unilateral one..

MONITZ:


I know Germany has always been pro-Russia bt wat surprises me is how the economic powerhouse of Europe could allow herself be dictated to by an Uncle Sam that is so many miles away ,I just hope they re able to sustain the present tempo of trying to reassert themselves..


The most annoying thing is that these sanctions ve little or no impact on Uncle Sam the way they do the EU, Uncle Sam shouldn't be allowed to have her way at all time because this is a reason they feel they re the world police and decide who gets what nd whatnot..A multi-leadership world is safer than a unilateral one..

No be small thing o oooh
Even Angela Merkel said, she sacrificed her country economy just to punish Russia but only for short time now .
Germany controls Russia market before the sanction now the Russia market is 60 % Chinese now.
That's why Austria,Germany and Italy are going against the sanction because it will affect them not Russia.
Russia has already faced East

seunny4lif:

No be small thing o oooh
Even Angela Merkel said, she sacrificed her country economy just to punish Russia but only for short time now .
Germany controls Russia market before the sanction now the Russia market is 60 % Chinese now.
That's why Austria,Germany and Italy are going against the sanction because it will affect them not Russia.
Russia has already faced East

The Russians had faced East before WTO came into existence. It only formalised it with the formation of BRICS.

Russia energy and military deals with China and India surpasses all its deal with EU specifically in favour of Russia. Hence Russia decided to open its markets to Chinese and Indian(Eastern) companies which was once dominated by EU (Western) companies.

Of course u can guess the losers who are busy killing their economy in the name of sanctions.

romme2u:


The Russians had faced East before WTO came into existence. It only formalised it with the formation of BRICS.

Russia energy and military deals with China and India surpasses all its deal with EU specifically in favour of Russia. Hence Russia decided to open its markets to Chinese and Indian(Eastern) companies which was once dominated by EU (Western) companies.

Of course u can guess the losers who are busy killing their economy in the name of sanctions.

I tell ya
US want war with Russia and very soon they will have.
US don't learn from history.

Appleyard:
The EU has got it coming all along. That's the prize for dining with the Devil. The real enemy of America are the Satanic private interest/establishment that controls the country. They will do everything to ensure they keep their business. A Russian-Trump American pally is bad for business. So, everything must be done to widen the rift, even if it include upsetting our European counterparts.

That's America state of the Establishment for you - a one way route to nihilism.

well said sir

seunny4lif:

I tell ya
US want war with Russia and very soon they will have.
US don't learn from history.

exactly, the sanctions is a pure attempt to corner and provoke Russia. but i believe Putin knows this, and would act when its time.