What is the EU's anti-coercion 'bazooka' it could use against US?

"Trump stunned Europe on Saturday when he vowed to slap EU members Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden -- and non-members Britain and Norway -- with levies of up to 25 percent unless the Danish territory is ceded to the United States. French President Emmanuel Macron has raised the prospect of hitting back with the EU's trade weapon, that was established in 2023 but has never been activated."

"Referred to as a "bazooka" or "nuclear" option, the instrument is intended to deter economic coercion against any of the EU's 27 member states. The EU defines coercion as a third country "applying -- or threatening to apply -- measures affecting trade or investment", thereby interfering "with the legitimate sovereign choices" of the EU and member states. What dos the instrument do?The armoury allows the EU to take measures such as import and export restrictions on goods and services"

"It also gives Brussels the power to limit American companies' access to public procurement contracts in Europe. The EU last year threatened to use the weapon during difficult trade negotiations with Trump to avoid steep levies but the two sides struck a deal. A major target could be American tech giants since the United States has a services surplus with the EU. Brussels previously drew up a list of US services to potentially target."

Donald Trump threatened levies of up to 25 percent on several EU members and non-members unless a Danish territory is ceded to the United States. Emmanuel Macron raised activating the EU's 2023 trade defence instrument. The instrument is designed to deter economic coercion and defines coercion as measures affecting trade or investment that interfere with sovereign choices. The EU can impose import and export restrictions and restrict access to public procurement. The instrument was created after Lithuania accused China of banning its exports. Activation requires at least 55 percent of member states representing 65 percent of the EU population.

Read at The Local France