RC:
 

... forcing the US to step back a notch, to avoid destroying or even only heavily damaging VW in the process. ...

I hope this is what will happen, because nothing would be gained and a lot lost for the West, including the US, economically, were VW to be maimed by this. I think they can make the statement they need to to "punish" them and deter future cheating (although, the best way to do this is to make cheating harder) in the future without causing irreparable damage.