Geopolitical Trade Realignment: The End of Free-Trade Orthodoxy (euobserver.com)

• Shift from free-trade idealism to pragmatic protectionism.
• De facto acceptance of US tariffs despite official commitment to rules-based trade.
• Prioritization of strategic autonomy over global supply chain efficiency.

"The European Union is shifting away from its traditional dogma of rules-based free trade. In response to Donald Trump's aggressive tariff policies, Brussels is pivoting toward a more pragmatic, defensive stance often described as 'gunboat trade policy'. While the EU continues to rhetorically support multilateralism, its actual acceptance of US tariffs signals a deeper movement toward economic nationalism and strategic autonomy. This marks the fragmentation of the post-WWII trade order, where economic power and leverage now supersede legal frameworks."