EUR/USD trades with mild losses near 1.0400 amid Trump’s tariff threats

EUR/USD trades in negative territory around 1.0415 in Wednesday’s early European session.
Trump tariff threats drag the Euro lower against the USD.
The ECB is anticipated to cut the interest rates at its January meeting.

Lallalit Srijandorn FXStreet

The EUR/USD pair drifts lower to around 1.0415 during the Asian trading hours on Wednesday. The Euro (EUR) weakens against the US Dollar (USD) after US President Donald Trump vowed to hit the European Union (EU) with tariffs. Later on Wednesday, traders will keep an eye on the European Central Bank’s (ECB) President Lagarde speech for fresh impetus.

Late Tuesday, Trump said that he would impose 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico, as well as duties on China and the European Union on February 1. Trump said that the EU and other nations have troubling trade deficits with the US. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of preserving trading relations between the EU and the US. With a trading volume of €1.5 trillion and significant transatlantic investment, "a lot is at stake for both sides.". A stronger USD is another likely outcome of Trump's policies, which could weigh on the shared currency.

Additionally, the dovish expectation from the ECB might contribute to the EUR’s downside. Traders expected the ECB to deliver a rate cut on January 30 and see the benchmark down at 2% by the end of the year. ECB policymaker Boris Vujcic said on Monday that market expectations for ECB interest rate cuts are reasonable and risks around the inflation outlook are broadly balanced.

Euro FAQs

What is the Euro?

The Euro is the currency for the 19 European Union countries that belong to the Eurozone. It is the second most heavily traded currency in the world behind the US Dollar. In 2022, it accounted for 31% of all foreign exchange transactions, with an average daily turnover of over $2.2 trillion a day. EUR/USD is the most heavily traded currency pair in the world, accounting for an estimated 30% off all transactions, followed by EUR/JPY (4%), EUR/GBP (3%) and EUR/AUD (2%).

What is the ECB and how does it impact the Euro?

The European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt, Germany, is the reserve bank for the Eurozone. The ECB sets interest rates and manages monetary policy. The ECB’s primary mandate is to maintain price stability, which means either controlling inflation or stimulating growth. Its primary tool is the raising or lowering of interest rates. Relatively high interest rates – or the expectation of higher rates – will usually benefit the Euro and vice versa. The ECB Governing Council makes monetary policy decisions at meetings held eight times a year. Decisions are made by heads of the Eurozone national banks and six permanent members, including the President of the ECB, Christine Lagarde.

How does inflation data impact the value of the Euro?

Eurozone inflation data, measured by the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), is an important econometric for the Euro. If inflation rises more than expected, especially if above the ECB’s 2% target, it obliges the ECB to raise interest rates to bring it back under control. Relatively high interest rates compared to its counterparts will usually benefit the Euro, as it makes the region more attractive as a place for global investors to park their money.

How does economic data influence the value of the Euro?

Data releases gauge the health of the economy and can impact on the Euro. Indicators such as GDP, Manufacturing and Services PMIs, employment, and consumer sentiment surveys can all influence the direction of the single currency. A strong economy is good for the Euro. Not only does it attract more foreign investment but it may encourage the ECB to put up interest rates, which will directly strengthen the Euro. Otherwise, if economic data is weak, the Euro is likely to fall. Economic data for the four largest economies in the euro area (Germany, France, Italy and Spain) are especially significant, as they account for 75% of the Eurozone’s economy.

How does the Trade Balance impact the Euro?

Another significant data release for the Euro is the Trade Balance. This indicator measures the difference between what a country earns from its exports and what it spends on imports over a given period. If a country produces highly sought after exports then its currency will gain in value purely from the extra demand created from foreign buyers seeking to purchase these goods. Therefore, a positive net Trade Balance strengthens a currency and vice versa for a negative balance.

Author

Lallalit Srijandorn

FXStreet

Lallalit Srijandorn is a Parisian at heart. She has lived in France since 2019 and now becomes a digital entrepreneur based in Paris and Bangkok.

GBP/USD holds near Feb. 11 highs as bulls await breakout above 1.3660

The GBP/USD pair trades with a positive bias around mid-1.3600s at the start of a new week and remains well within striking distance of its highest level since February 11, touched on Friday. Moreover, the fundamental backdrop favors bullish traders and backs the case for an extension of a nearly one-month-old uptrend.

EUR/USD holds steady amid US debt strategy

EUR/USD remains stronger for the fourth successive trading day, hovering around 1.1680 during the Asian hours. The currency pair holds its ground as the US Dollar struggles under pressure from newly announced United States fiscal moves. The Treasury Department surprised financial markets by pledging to at least double its buybacks of longer-dated government debt in an attempt to rein in rising bond yields.

Gold keeps rallying toward $4,700, fresh three-month highs

Gold extends its last week's stellar performance into Asian trading on Monday, refreshing three-month highs beyond $4,600. The precious metal capitalizes on persistent US Dollar weakness, following the US Treasury's buyback plan amid fresh US-Canada trade tensions.

Bitcoin holds above $77,000 – PENGU and AAVE eye further gains

The broader cryptocurrency market is gaining momentum with Bitcoin above $77,000 holding its 23% gains from last week. Renewed institutional demand, with $1.92 billion in inflows last week, the largest so far in 2026, backs the risk-on sentiment. Pudgy Penguins and Aave have emerged as top performers over the last 24 hours.

US Dollar Weekly Forecast: Enter Jackson, mind the (budget) Hole

It was not geopolitics, the US-Japan joint FX intervention to support the beleaguered Japanese currency or the omnipresent bets on what the Federal Reserve (Fed) might do in the second half of the year that kept the US Dollar (USD) well on the back foot over the past five days.

$20 billion offered, $2 billion taken: Why Treasury doubled its buyback cap

The US Treasury moved off its own calendar on Wednesday, and that is the part worth sitting with. At 12:32 GMT, the department said it would at least double the size of liquidity support buyback operations in the 10-year to 20-year and 20-year to 30-year sectors, lifting the maximum from $2 billion per operation to at least $4 billion, effective September 9 and running to November 4.