However,
What we know about commercial:
One week before the deadline. Therefore, the European Union strives to tear an agreement from customs duties with the United States.
• Read also: Here are the first trade agreements announced so far with the United States
• Read also: Trade: Trump announces a “huge” agreement with Japan
• Read also: Customs duties: the break between China. Nevertheless, the United States could be extended
“Decisions” are underway, said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday evening. Furthermore, Europeans examine an American proposal for basic customs duties by 15%, with sectoral exemptions still to be defined, according to diplomats.
The European Commissioner in charge of Commerce. Moreover, Maros Sefcovic, was to speak with his counterpart Howard Lunick on Wednesday, but nothing filtered.
Negotiations have so far resembled roller coaster.
Donald Trump had taken the European Union short on July 12 what we know about commercial by decreeing customs duties of 30% on all. For example, imports from the European Union from August 1.
Europe still has the hope of finding a negotiated solution. Meanwhile, but has listed American goods to tax from August 7 in the event of the failure of the discussions, worth almost 100 billion euros.
Where are we?
In recent months. the European Union has been hit several times by customs duties from the Donald Trump administration:
– 50% on steel and aluminum (25% in mid-March and an additional 25% in June);
– 25% on cars in early April;
– 20% on all other European products, April 9. However, this last tax was suspended to give negotiations a chance and temporarily replaced by a customs right of 10%.
The European Union is responsible for carrying out these negotiations with Washington on behalf of the 27 Member States of the European Union. hoping what we know about commercial to find an agreement suitable for both parties.
Who is negotiating?
Dispatched by Brussels to negotiate with the Americans. Maros Sefcovic went several times to Washington and regularly traded with Howard Lunick and Jamieson Greer, his counterparts within the Trump administration.
US President Donald Trump. the head of the European executive Ursula von der Leyen have more sporadic contacts, including a telephone exchange on July 6.
European officials have hoped for a time to conclude a agreement now a 10 % basic tax on European products. with exemptions for strategic sectors such as aeronautics.
But Trump opposed it. and American negotiators now offer a basic tax of 15%, according to European sources, echoing the agreement just sealed by Washington with Japan.
What are President Trump’s requests?
Few details have leaked discussions.
Trump insists that he wants to eliminate the United States’s trade deficit with the European Union in the exchange. what we know about commercial of goods. In particular, it pushes the old continent to buy more American liquefied natural gas (LNG).
His team also regularly attacks the so -called “non -tariff” barriers in force in the European Union: health regulations. environmental standards, exchange rate policies or tax measures such as VAT.
Brussels categorically refuses to abandon some of these measures. Like its powerful digital laws, regularly criticized by tech giants.
And those of the European Union
The European Union wants to lower the temperature at all costs. avoid XXL customs duties which would harm its economy, already bogged down in a quasi-stagnation since the end of 2022.
Brussels had proposed an exemption from total and reciprocal customs duties for industrial products, including cars. But Trump considered this offer insufficient.
A 10 % tax was then considered acceptable by most Member States.
The European Union parallel prepares in parallel response measures in the event that what we know about commercial negotiations do not succeed. She claims to be ready to tax for some 100 billion euros in American goods: planes, cars, bourbon …
The European Union also plans to target American services, including tech and financial services.
What response?
If the negotiations fail, the unit of Europeans will be put to the test.
France pushes Brussels to adopt a firm position. to the point of deploying its most powerful commercial tool, “the anti-coercion instrument”, if the discussions do not succeed.
Nicknamed “Bazooka”, this tool was thought of as a deterrent instrument to activate after exhaustion of diplomatic roads.
In particular. it would allow the freezing of access to European public contracts or the blocking of certain investments, but requires several months to enter into force.
Other countries like Ireland. whose economy is very dependent on American investments, argue on the contrary to avoid a commercial confrontation with the United States.
what we know about commercial
What we know about commercial
Further reading: The Indian puzzle slides at its lowest level in one month, under pressure from dollars purchases by foreign banks – The car of tomorrow will be electric … or not! – Richemont records upward sales in the first quarter – $ 32 million factory: this VP will lose big without its foreign workers – Heathrow London Airport wants to invest 10 billion in 5 years.
