Customs duties: the ex-boss of the EU pleads for strong measures

The EU must deploy its “bazooka” anti-coercion commercial weapon. Meanwhile, show that it is serious, because pricing negotiations with the United States will not lead to a balanced result, said the former head of the European Commission in an interview with Euronews.

Donald Trump does not seek an agreement. Furthermore, he engages in “Mafia type extortion”said the former director general of the DG Commerce, Jean-Luc Demarty. However, “In addition to the 93 billion euros in retaliatory measures, I would add the triggering of the anti-coercion instrument. Consequently, What Trump does is clearly coercion. However, It would be a way to show that we put our colt on the negotiation table.”

On July 12. American President Donald Trump threatened to impose customs duties customs duties: ex-boss eu pleads of 30 % on EU imports if a satisfactory agreement is not concluded with the EU on customs duties by August 1.

Since mid-March. the United States and the EU have been entangled in a commercial dispute, EU steel and aluminum imports being subjected to American customs duties of 50 %, cars of 25 %and all other imports of 10 %.

The EU has adopted a first list of retaliatory measures, currently suspended, which aims at 21 billion euros in American products. A second list, relating to 72 billion euros, is being adopted.

However. Jean-Luc Demarty said that the European executive should go further, unlike the president of the commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who declared on July 13 that the situation was not yet of coercion.

The instrument for combating coercion offers stronger commercial defenses – Customs duties: ex-boss eu pleads

The anti-coercion instrument. adopted by the EU in 2023, allows the EU to restrict the right to participate in customs duties: ex-boss eu pleads tenders for public procurement, to limit licenses and adopt restrictions on trade in services and aspects of intellectual property rights that affect trade, once the coercion has been established by a third country has been established.

According to the former senior European official. negotiations having no chance of achieving a balanced agreement, the EU will have to target American services, which will require political courage.

“Measures must be taken on services, digital and financial sectors, in order to rebalance an asymmetrical agreement. Because by targeting American goods. the EU cannot significantly exceed around 100 billion euros without shooting itself in the foot – since the rest is made up of imports on which it depends “he said.

“This is an existential political moment, “he added.” If we are not able to do so, why would the Chinese hesitate to exercise coercion against us? Or others? This would prove that Europe has the courage customs duties: ex-boss eu pleads to take the risk of a trade war which. in my opinion, is inevitable. It will be costly for us, but much more for the United States, and it will make Trump back.”