EU governments are planning to “weaponise” life-saving medicines sent to the United States to counter Donald Trump’s hostility towards the bloc.
Officials have identified hundreds of products, including antibiotics, radiation therapies, and pacemakers, for which the US is dependent on shipments from the EU to meet domestic demand.
Diplomatic sources revealed that talks were being held about how to use these items to squeeze Mr Trump if he continues to threaten the Continent’s military and economic security.
The US president has pledged to slap 25 per cent tariffs on trade from the EU and suggested he would not defend European Nato allies that do not meet spending targets.
Until now, the diplomatic effort to placate Mr Trump has focused on promises to boost defence expenditure and increase purchases from the US.
But the US president’s decision to switch off military aid and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine has prompted new fears that he could ratchet up pressure on the Continent.
European leaders are being advised that threatening to curb deliveries of products including life-saving medicines could subdue him.
“We need to start weaponising his dependencies,” a European diplomat said.
Officials have turned to a document titled “Strategic dependencies and capacities”, drawn up by the European Commission in 2021, that has highlighted 260 products where the US is dependent on EU supplies.
On the list are items such as antibiotics, pacemakers, and high-quality steel.
The working paper was originally intended as an analysis of supply chains in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, which brought international trade to a near-standstill.
However, it is being repurposed to prove to EU leaders they have ways to demonstrate strength to face down Mr Trump.
“The majority of radiation therapy isotopes are made in Germany. The entire semiconductor boom can’t go on without European machines, high-grade steel is not made in Appalachian mills but in the German steel belt, antibiotics in Italy,” the diplomat said.
“European leaders need to understand that we are not as weak as we think.”
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds – Noise Cancelling, Apple H2 Chip, Heart Rate Monitor, IPX4, Up to 45H Battery & Wireless Charging
Shock treatment by Trump
It would be controversial to target healthcare exports to the US as part of any pressure campaign against Mr Trump.
Life-saving treatments were excluded from the bloc’s sanctions on Russia in response to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine for ethical reasons.
But the silent warnings are intended as a shock treatment to demonstrate to the US president that he cannot continue to challenge Europe unopposed.
It is being carefully crafted to cut across Mr Trump’s promise to the American people that he will keep healthcare costs down.
A similar but less aggressive strategy to target traditional US brands with EU tariffs was drawn up during Mr Trump’s first term in the White House after he threatened to hit the bloc with levies.
In 2018, the EU brought into force extra taxes on flagship US goods such as Kentucky whiskey, Levi’s jeans, and Harley-Davidson motorcycles in response to Mr Trump’s levies of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminium imports.
As well as considering fresh trade measures, the EU is planning to invest €800 billion (£671.2 billion) in defence to make itself less reliant on Washington for its security.
France has also opened talks over expanding its nuclear umbrella to other European nations as a way of achieving strategic autonomy as the US reduces its presence on the Continent.
