The bloc is keen to strike a “zero-for-zero tariffs” settlement for industrial items, in keeping with Ursula von der Leyen
Brussels is keen to barter a brand new settlement on tariffs with the US, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen has mentioned. The assertion comes after US President Donald Trump slapped the bloc with a blanket 20% tariff that may take impact on Wednesday.
“We have now supplied zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial items,” von der Leyen advised a press convention on Monday. “Europe is at all times prepared for an excellent deal, so we preserve it on the desk.”
The provide was reportedly made weeks in the past however was solely revealed after a gathering of EU commerce ministers in Luxembourg on Monday. Based on Reuters, it was determined that the bloc would prioritize negotiating with Washington slightly than participating in a commerce conflict.
The bloc has different measures in retailer if the edges fail to achieve an settlement, the EU Fee head mentioned, with out elaborating. “We’re additionally ready to reply by means of countermeasures and defend our pursuits,” she acknowledged, including that the EU significantly seeks to defend itself “in opposition to oblique results by means of commerce diversion.”
Her phrases have been echoed by the EU commissioner on commerce and financial safety, Maros Sefcovic, who acknowledged on X that the bloc was “totally prepared to barter at any time when our US companions are” however is continuous its work on countermeasures as effectively.
The Trump administration beforehand launched 25% import tariffs on EU metal and aluminum. The American president justified the coverage by saying it was focusing on nations that themselves impose excessive boundaries for US items.
Final week, the US carried out a levy on imports, starting from 10% to 50%, on greater than 200 nations it perceives as participating in unfair commerce practices.
On Monday, the US president acknowledged on social media that the tariffs have been working and have been supposedly yielding vital financial advantages for the US. Later within the day, Trump accused the EU of treating the US “badly,” including that Brussels is keen to eliminate the tariffs now. The president acknowledged that the concessions supplied by the bloc weren’t sufficient.
“It’s not solely tariffs, it’s not financial tariffs,” Trump mentioned. The EU authorities “provide you with guidelines and rules which can be simply designed for one cause that you simply can’t promote your merchandise in these nations and we’re not going to let that occur,” he acknowledged.
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