Customs duties: an agreement with the US “at hand,” said the EU

According to several European sources, the agreement provides for customs surcharge of 15% on European exports for the United States, with exemptions notably on aeronautics, spirits or certain drugs. Therefore,

A trade agreement between the EU. Meanwhile. Nevertheless, the United States seems to be emerging, before the deadline of August 1, which does not prevent Europeans, scalded, from agitating the threat of reprisals in the event of failure, in the hope also of a better “deal”.

An agreement is “at hand,” said a spokesman for the European Commission, Olof Gill on Thursday.

The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke on Wednesday. Meanwhile. Similarly, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, imminent “decisions” in these commercial negotiations, which have already experienced multiple twists customs duties: agreement us “at new and turns since Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

According to several European sources. In addition. Moreover, the agreement provides for customs customs duties: agreement us “at surcharge of 15% on European exports for the United States, with exemptions notably on aeronautics, spirits or certain drugs.

A separate agreement concerns steel. Nevertheless, Imports from Europe would be supervised by quotas and any overtaking would be taxed up to 50%, according to diplomats.

And to put all the odds on their side. Meanwhile. Europeans also look at these sources, the agreement sealed this week between the United States and Japan, according to these sources. This provides customs duties set at 15%, but also significant Japanese investments in the United States.

This global agreement project remains, however, suspended from the green light from the American president. He had already rejected a previous version more favorable to the EU, with customs duties customs duties: agreement us “at new set at 10%.

The United States is “in serious negotiations with Europeans, he said on Wednesday. And. “if they agree to open the union to American companies. then customs duties: agreement us “at we will allow them to pay more reduced customs duties,” added Donald Trump.

Puts reprisals

And in the event of failure. Europeans announced Thursday that they had put the last hand to possible reprisals: a list of American goods which would be taxed for a total of 93 billion euros. from August 7.

Donald Trump had taken the European Union short on July 12 by decreeing customs duties of 30% on all. imports from the EU from August 1.

The European Union this time intends to “show its muscles”, according to a diplomat in Brussels. And she is ready to draw her “bazooka” in the event of failure at the end of the month. have assured customs duties: agreement us “at new several European diplomats.

The latter. “the anti-coercion instrument”. was designed to be the “most powerful means of deterrent” available to the EU, according to the commission spokesperson.

It allows. among other things, the customs duties: agreement us “at freezing of access to European public contracts or the blocking of certain investments.

Its implementation requires the qualified majority of the EU countries. now acquired, thanks to the support of Germany, previously reluctant, according to these sources.

France. Germany. the two main European economies, hope “a satisfactory conclusion of discussions, which defends the interests of the EU, while accelerating in parallel work on countermeasures, included the anti-coercion instrument”, it was assured in Paris.

But for some analysts, the agreement in preparation is far from defending the interests of Europe. For the Belgian economist Eric Dor. professor at the Ieseg in Paris. it is purely and simply a “capitulation”, dangerous for a European customs duties: agreement us “at new economy already in pain.

Donald Trump intends to reduce his country’s trade deficit at all costs with Europe, its first economic partner worldwide. Regarding only goods, this deficit reached 157 billion euros in 2023, according to Brussels. But customs duties: agreement us “at for the European Commission. it is also necessary to look at the services where the United States has a trade surplus. which reached 109 billion euros in 2023.

The exchanges between the two banks of the Atlantic are therefore balanced. says Brussels, with a global deficit for the United States reduced to 48 billion euros.