EU TRADE CHIEF SAYS BLOC WILL NOT BE PRESSURED INTO UNFAIR DEAL- Sefcovic says all options remain on the table
The European Union’s trade chief stated that the EU does not feel under undue pressure to accept an unfair trade deal with the United States, adding that other trading partners were very keen to accelerate talks with the bloc.
European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic told the European Parliament that the EU will prepare countermeasures to the multitude of U.S. tariffs with all options on the table.
Sefcovic said a negotiated solution with the United States remained the EU’s clear and preferred outcome. The 27-nation bloc faces 25% U.S. import tariffs on steel and aluminum and cars and “reciprocal” tariffs of 10% for almost all other goods that could rise to 20% after President Donald Trump’s 90-day pause.
Sefcovic said the European Union would use the pause until July 8 to prepare further rebalancing measures and ensure a level playing field if talks failed.
“All options remain on the table here,” Sefcovic said.
The European Union has suspended its own countermeasures against the steel tariffs to give room for negotiations, although they appear to have made only limited progress.
