Los 30% tariffs on European imports announced last Saturday by the president of the United States, Donald TrumpThey would be “Prohibitive” for commercial relations Transatlantic, has warned the commissioner of commerce, Maros SEFCOVIC, after a meeting of Foreign Ministers and Commerce on Monday in Brussels.
“30% is absolutely unacceptable. This level that is absolutely prohibitive for any type of trade“The Slovenian said. There has been his arrival at the meeting, the commissioner had shown his “Disappointment” by Trump’s decisionespecially at a time when European and American negotiators were so close to an agreement. This announcement, said the commissioner, has changed the dynamics and demands an urgent solution.
But Sefcovic does not lose hope. “My impression was that it was something that was worth working”said the commissioner. “We wouldn’t happen like three months writing the agreement in principle and reviewing 1,700 tariff lines, discussing all the details, from agriculture to spare parts for cars, If this were to end suddenly with a lettereven if it is a very, very important letter, “he explained.
New contacts
Both the European Commission and the twenty -seven governments of the EU They are still betting on a negotiated solution. “I intend to speak again with my American counterparts later today, since I can’t imagine retiring without a genuine effort“Sefcovic said before the press. The Slovenian has assured that his colleagues in Washington also still willing to negotiate, despite the letter. Contacts continue at all levels.
“We have been quite close to agreeing on the text of a principle of agreement, “insisted the EU negotiator,” but there has been clearly areas in which we had a fairly large gap Between our two positions. “The commissioner has not come into details about what are those differences, which would have caused the shipment of the letter.”I prefer to negotiate directly with my partners“He has sentenced.
“We want to use every day, every possibility, and Every minute until August 1 to find a solution Negotiated, “said SEFCOVIC. The commissioner has warned that if 30% of tariffs enter into force causing a response from Brussels in the form of reprisals” it will be almost impossible to continue tradeas we are used to in the transatlantic relationship. ”
Answer
The twenty -seven have shown their support for the work of the European Commission. All advocate continuing with the negotiations to achieve an agreement before August 1, when the new deadline announced by Trump expires. At the same time, More and more voices are asking to answer If those conversations fail. SEFCOVIC has recognized that with respect to previous meetings, this message is now heard “throughout the table.”
The French Minister of Commerce, Laurent Saint-Martin He has asked Brussels to make use of his “strength” to avoid An “unacceptable” imbalance relationship. The Frenchman has insisted that Saturday’s letter requires “a change of strategy.” Also Spanish Economy Carlos Corps has called A. “Not be naive” and prepare to answer in case there is no agreement.
Upon arrival at the meeting, body had said that the strategy should go through “Continue holding your hand to negotiationbut understanding that in parallel we have to advance to be prepared. “We’ll see if there is a need or not,” said the minister about the possibility of using other instruments such as the anti-coercion mechanism, provided for when a third country tries to impose a political vision on the EU using economic pressure.
Governments, he said Lars Løkke RasmussenDenmark Foreign Minister who holds the presidency of the Council, They consider the “unacceptable” and “unfair” tariffs. Also that the EU does not want a commercial war with the US that would be “devastating” for both parties. “We do not want an escalation, but, on the other hand, we also need to show some muscle,” he said, “If we want peace, we have to prepare for war.”
Retaliation
SEFCOVIC itself has renocated that The EU has to prepare for any scenario. Including the need to take “measures and proportional measures to Restore balance in our commercial relationships“In this sense, Brussels has already put two letters on the table: a package of measures in response to the Tariffs on steel and aluminum that the White House has raised 25% to 50% and another, as a reaction to the so -called “Reciprocal tariffs”that Trump has threatened to increase to 30%.
The first package, by value of 21,000 million euros in imports from the United StatesI was suspended until Monday. Last Sunday, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced its decision of Expand that pause until August 1deadline before 30% tariffs enter into force if there is no agreement.
The second package was a series of measures that had to affect about 95,000 million euros in imports Americans. After consulting with industry and governments, SEFCOVIC has announced a substantial reduction of the impact, a 72,000 million in importsalthough without going into details. This second package You still need the approval of the twenty -sevenbut I was precisely thought in case there was no agreement and the increase in tariffs remained over time.
Free trade
The third leg of the EU strategy before the commercial war initiated by the United States is reinforce exchanges with other countries. SEFCOVIC explained that all the big countries that do business with Washington have received A letter with tariffs between 25% and 35%. “It’s good to compare notes,” said the commissioner.
In addition, the Slovenian said, “we also want to discuss how is affecting the economy, To the commercial partners, and, of course, we are also discussing What can we do to trade more Among us. “In fact, the commissioner has assured that one of the messages he has received from the twenty -seven is the need to work to open new markets.
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