Skip to main content

Institute for Economic Analysis (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain    — Advancing Economic Research for a Changing Society

IAE CSIC BSE

Llull interviewed by IB3 Ràdio on Trump’s trade war and its global economic impact

23 April 2025
Lull IB

15-04-2025: Llull interviewed by IB3 Ràdio on Trump’s trade war and its global economic impact.

Joan Llull warns that Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff policies could have long-lasting consequences for global trade, inflation, and economic stability—especially if the escalation continues over the next four years. In the interview, Llull highlights the fragility of global supply chains and emphasizes that the cost of this trade war may ultimately fall on consumers and the very voters Trump seeks to appease.

He notes that while the direct impact on some regions may be limited due to low export volumes to the U.S., the indirect effects—such as rising inflation and reduced global economic activity—could be significant. Llull expresses concern over the risk of recession in Europe, especially if trade tensions trigger a new round of inflation and force central banks to tighten monetary policy further.

Regarding Europe’s response, he argues against retaliatory tariffs, favoring instead a strategic opening of markets and increased trade cooperation with other global partners to strengthen the EU’s position. He also stresses that any support plans, like Spain’s proposed €14.1 billion relief package, should focus on helping businesses adapt their supply chains rather than simply compensating short-term losses.

Ultimately, Llull underscores the need for coordinated action and strategic vision in the face of growing global instability, warning that failure to act could allow rival powers like China to fill the vacuum left by a retreating U.S.

Joan Llull
Research Professor at the IAE-CSIC


Latest Articles

Llull IB
Llull interviewed by IB3 Ràdio on Trump’s trade war and its global economic impact
language
The Workshop on Language Economics and Policy will take place on May 29–30, 2025, at UB Economics, focusing on the economic impact of language and related policies.
CESC 2025
IAE-CSIC proudly co-organizes the Fourth Catalan Economic Society Conference, featuring top economists and contributions from several IAE-CSIC researchers—join us in Barcelona on May 9-10