One reason it's different this time is that Donald Trump is using the tariff tool as a weapon, Dousa believes. It's about more than economics, it's basically about taking over Greenland.
Economically, the situation is also different.
At that time, the threats of increased tariffs were directed at virtually the entire world; now it is Europe that is the target. At that time, the EU in many cases had lower actual tariff rates than other comparable countries, but if the threat of an additional 10 percent tariff is implemented on February 1, the EU will stand out negatively.
Therefore, this could have greater effects on exports than last time, says Dousa.
Cars and pharmaceuticals
The industries expected to be most affected by further tariff increases are those with large exports to the US and whose products are easily interchangeable, such as pharmaceuticals, cars, wood products and certain types of iron and steel.
Meetings are currently taking place at all levels in Brussels, Davos and other European cities about how the EU should respond to the tariff threat. Benjamin Dousa does not dare to predict where it will end.
There are new messages coming from the president almost every two hours via Truth Social, but we want to solve this, he says.
The most important thing now is that Europe stays together. We are not at February 1 yet, and that is our biggest focus right now, to be able to find a solution.
Duty on champagne
Sweden has received an invitation to participate in Trump's so-called peace council, which can be seen as an alternative to the UN. That concerns Benjamin Dousa, who is also Minister of International Development Cooperation.
So far, Sweden has not announced whether it will join or not. But France, which declined, immediately got a taste of Trump's tariff medicine - the threat of a 200 percent tariff on champagne and wines.
Do you dare to refuse the invitation?
"Yes, we will not let ourselves be blackmailed by the White House," says Dousa.
The new announcement about tariffs on champagne and wines is another example of the absurdities coming from the White House.
