German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil called for “serious negotiations” with the United States on Sunday after US President Donald Trump threatened 50 % of the European Union imports (EU). TASR informs about this on the basis of AFP report.
Trump threatened the EU on Friday (23 May). He accused the European block that “discussions are nowhere to him”. He added that duties could start paying from 1 June. This increased the tension between two key world economies.
Klingbeil told Bild for Sunday’s issue that the EU now “does not need any additional provocations, but serious negotiations”, adding that he spoke about his American counterpart Scott Bessent.
Europe wants the US to only harm, Trump says
However, Trump also said on Friday that “he is not looking for an agreement”. And he reiterated its long -term view that the EU was created to “use and harm them”. Klingbeil recalled that duties not only endanger the European and German economy, but also the American economy.
The stock markets have fallen after Trump’s threats for concerns about their negative impact on global economic growth, which was also affected by the US dollar.
The European Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefčovič responded to Trump by saying that the European block has undertaken to secure an agreement that will work for both parties. At the same time, he said that business relations “must be guided by mutual respect, not threats”. And he added that the EU is ready to defend its interests.
Klingbeil reiterated that Germany supports the EU in negotiations with the US. “We, as Europeans, are united and determined to represent our interests,” he said.
European leaders are talking about maintaining peace
Other European leaders and ministers also supported the European Commission’s approach after Trump’s threats, but at the same time called on to maintain balance and peace.
Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris said that “factual, calm and comprehensive dialogue with the United States is needed”.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, in turn, stated that it would be very harmful if the US President had fulfilled his threat. In his speech in Cork, he said that “everyone in the EU is acting in good faith”.
French Minister of Commerce Laurent Saint-Martin wrote in a social network post that Paris is for the de-escalation of the dispute, but is ready to respond.
