The European Union (EU) still hopes to obtain an agreement with the United States after the new threats of Donald Trump to impose on him 1is August 30 %of customs duties, but its patience is falling asleep and its response could reach 72 billion euros ($ 115 billion CA), the EU chief negotiator said on Monday.
We negotiate first, but we are preparing at the same time
assured the European commissioner in charge of trade, Maros Sefcovic, before the press, after a meeting of the trade ministers of theUE in Brussels. He stressed that it was a common position of the 27 member countries.
The European Commissioner, who negotiates with Washington on behalf of the twenty-seven, confirmed his intention to continue the discussions until the deadline of 1is August set by Donald Trump, including Monday with his American counterparts.
But as I have already said, it takes two hands to applaud
and therefore theUE must also prepare for possible reprisals if the discussions fail, he noted. The list of 72 billion euros in American goods that theUE Could target do not exhaust the field of all possibilities, he said.
L’UE has already prepared a distinct list of American imports worth 21 billion euros ($ 33.6 billion CA) that it is ready to aim due to customs duties already imposed by the American president on steel and aluminum. These measures are currently suspended.
Donald Trump’s decision, announced in a letter made public on Saturday, threw a cold while the commercial negotiations were still underway between Brussels and Washington, before the deadline of 1is august.
And some countries judge that theUE must now move up a gear and show its strength.
Obviously, the situation since Saturday should lead us to change our methods
said in Brussels the French Minister responsible for foreign trade, Laurent Saint-Martin. And you must not have no taboo
he hammered.
We want an agreement, but there is an old saying that says “If you want peace, you have to prepare for war”
said Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, whose country currently provides the rotating presidency of theUE.
Between response and negotiation
The president of the European Commission, which negotiates on behalf of the member states of theUEUrsula von der Leyen, has chosen for the moment to delay, under pressure in particular from countries like Germany, whose sales to the United States represent the most important part of the total exports of theUE.
President Donald Trump imposes and suspends prices on many countries since his return to power. (Archives photo)
Photo : Reuters / Leah Millis
She announced on Sunday that the Union was not going to fight back for the moment to American customs duties on steel and aluminum, in the hope of obtaining an agreement which would prove to be less painful.
We have always been very clear that we prefer a negotiated solution. This remains the case and we will use the time we now have up to 1is august
she said.
United Europe
European countries are trying to remain united in this case, although their savings are not exposed in the same way to the customs wrath of the American president.
Emmanuel Macron exhorted the committee on Saturday at resolutely defend European interests
and at accelerate the preparation of credible countermeasures
.
The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sunday to agree with the French president, adding that he had discussed with him, with Ursula von der Leyen and with Donald Trump in recent days. He claims to want to get involved intensively
To try to arrive at a solution.
The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, warned Sunday against the prospect of a trade war
within the Western world.
Europe has the economic and financial power necessary to assert its position and achieve a fair and common sense agreement. Italy will do its part. As always
she said in a press release, while her opposition accused her of lacking firmness against Washington.
Since his return to the presidency of the United States in January, Donald Trump has imposed fluctuating and generalized customs duties on his allies and competitors, disturbing the financial markets and fueling the fears of a global economic slowdown.
