We are inundated with news about trade tariffs. This creates uncertainty for everyone. A trade war between the US and Europe has just been paused, but China and the US have imposed staggering tariffs of over 100% on each other. This is not thoughtful policy, but harmful populism that threatens the global economy.

The VVD stands firmly for free trade. Free and fair trade leads to more competition, efficiency, and productivity; the conditions for more economic growth, lower prices, and greater prosperity. These tariffs from the US work against free trade and only ensure that we all pay more for our groceries.

Moreover, the threat of a trade war creates significant uncertainty. This undermines confidence in the market, causing entrepreneurs and other workers to be less willing to invest or speculate. This is detrimental to our economy in the long term and may lead us unnecessarily into a recession.

As I argued in my speech a few weeks ago, it is time for us to mature geopolitically. This starts with recognizing our position: the Netherlands is the champion of globalization; we earn 1/3 of our national income from trade. Therefore, a global recession will have greater consequences for us than for other countries. It is also good that Minister Heinen keeps the finances of the Netherlands in order, so we are prepared for potentially tougher economic times.

The tariffs from the US affect the entire EU, and therefore European unity is crucial. In this situation, the EU must leverage its economic weight. It must act like the great power it can be. In trade, the EU is a giant with 450 million consumers. We must use that power.

The US has paused the high tariffs on the EU for 90 days. We now have 90 days to negotiate with the US to ensure that Trump does not unnecessarily hit the wallet of the hardworking Dutchman, European, and American. As a transatlantic country, the Netherlands must advocate for dialogue.

At the same time, President Trump respects power: we must negotiate from a strong position. This calls for free trade with muscle. We must be prepared to defend our interests and hit back firmly if necessary to enforce a level playing field and bring the Americans to the table. Think of higher tariffs on products from Republican states and swing states. As far as the VVD is concerned, the EU should also prepare to tackle American tech companies.

The best response to these tariffs and uncertainty is an EU that can compete better with the rest of the world. This means fewer different rules in the internal market, strengthening our competitiveness, more (defense) industry, and completing the capital market union so that we can easily invest across borders.

We will also need to urgently bind new partners to us, so we are less dependent on the whims of Xi and Trump. This is not decoupling, but necessary de-risking to safeguard our strategic sovereignty. Active diversification through new and strengthened trade relationships is essential for our markets, access to critical raw materials (indispensable for, among other things, the energy transition), and energy security.

It is therefore of great importance that the House of Representatives does not complicate the ratification of new partnerships, such as with South America (Mercosur), Canada, Mexico, and India. These deals anchor partners to Europe instead of China or Russia and give us access to crucial raw materials. If parties like the PVV, GL/PvdA, NSC, and BBB continue to obstruct the Mercosur trade agreement, they are only playing into the hands of Xi and Trump and undermining our strategic position.