The fallout from President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff announcement has reverberated across global capitals, sparking outrage and concern among traditional U.S. allies. By unilaterally slapping tariffs on all imports—with rates as high as 70% for adversaries and 10-24% for key trading partners—Trump has fractured years of economic cooperation, drawing fierce criticism from Europe, Asia, and beyond.

The European Union’s top official, Ursula von der Leyen, called the U.S. move a “major blow to the world economy,” warning that the new 20% tariffs on EU goods would hurt millions. “We are not America’s enemy,” she said. “But this policy treats us like one.”

In London, British officials scrambled to contain the fallout, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledging to avoid a trade war but acknowledging that the 10% universal tariff on UK exports would likely damage British industries already struggling to recover. Economists warned that the tariffs could erase most of the UK’s projected growth for the year.

Japan’s Trade Minister Yoji Muto denounced the 24% tariffs as “extremely regrettable” and potentially in breach of World Trade Organization rules. Tokyo has assembled a response team to evaluate next steps, including possible retaliatory measures.

The response has not been limited to speeches. The EU is preparing a slate of retaliatory tariffs and legal challenges at the WTO. Other nations, including South Korea, Canada, and Australia, have called emergency cabinet meetings and initiated backchannel diplomacy to either de-escalate or carve out exemptions.

What allies find most concerning is not just the economic damage—but the message. Trump’s announcement was theatrical and combative, framing even close partners as parasitic beneficiaries of U.S. goodwill. At a campaign-style rally in Ohio, he declared, “They’ve taken advantage of us long enough. This is the day we take back control.”

Analysts warn that this marks a turning point in America’s postwar alliance system. “It’s not just a trade shift,” one EU official told Le Monde. “It’s a trust collapse.”

As talks stall and pressure builds, the transatlantic relationship—once the foundation of the global economic order—now faces an uncertain future. America’s allies are no longer just concerned about policy. They’re worried about permanence.