donald trump's behavior because the world trade organization provides protections for the weak against the power of the strong. east the shop we europeans need their protection because compared to the us and china we're small . without. certainly small if we don't speak with one voice in economic terms however europe is indeed on a par with the u.s. and with china for trading hubs like hamburg the situation remains tense the exemption of the e.u. from u.s. tariffs is only temporary and trump is unlikely to let the europeans off the hook without getting something in return. the free trade we experience and idealize today didn't fall from the sky wars have been fought over trade not with tariffs but with real armies with guns and swords people have actually died