EU trade tensions escalate as tariff threats loom from Trump
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced on platform X that she had a "good call" with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the tariffs imposed on the EU by the American administration.
"Europe is ready to advance talks swiftly and decisively. To reach a good deal, we would need the time until July 9," she wrote on X, adding that "EU and US share the world’s most consequential and close trade relationship."
On Friday, Trump declared that he is "'not looking for a deal" with the European Union and threatened to impose 50% tariffs on imports from the EU starting 1st June.
In response to these threats, the European Commission called on the USA to enter into trade agreement negotiations. "The EU's fully engaged, committed to securing a deal that works for both. EC remains ready to work in good faith," said the European Commissioner for Trade, Maros Sefcovic, following talks with the U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Trade Minister Howard Lutnick.
EU-US trade is unmatched & must be guided by mutual respect, not threats. We stand ready to defend our interests," he added.
Meanwhile, the German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil called on the United States on Sunday to engage in "serious negotiations". "American tariffs threaten the American economy just as much as the German and European economies," said Klingbeil in an interview for the Sunday edition of the Bild newspaper.
Trump's triple blow to the EU
At the beginning of May, the EU threatened to impose tariffs on imports from the United States, including cars and planes, valued at €95 billion, if trade negotiations with Trump fail. The European Commission also announced that it would bring the matter to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
In recent months, the U.S. administration has imposed tariffs on the European Union three times: in March, 25% on steel and aluminium, and in April, 25% on cars, with additional tariffs on all other European products at 20%, which have been suspended until July. The EU also faces basic tariffs of 10%.
