Donald Trump announced on Saturday, July 12, the next taxes of customs tariffs in 30% of the European Union, again raising commercial tensions.
These customs duties will enter into force on August 1, the US president said in a letter addressed to Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, which he published on his social social platform.
The commission, which is responsible for negotiating a commercial agreement with Washington on behalf of the Member States, reacted quickly. In a statement, he said he was ready “to continue working for an agreement before August 1”.
“The EU has always given priority to a negotiated solution with the United States, which reflects its commitment to dialogue, stability and a constructive transatlantic association,” he insists.
Possible rispost
“We will have to retaliate and rebalance certain key sectors if the United States emphasizes an asymmetrical agreement,” said European Industry Commissioner Stéphane, at the end of June.
A first list of retaliation rights to US products for around 21 billion euros has been planned. These taxes are currently suspended until July 14. European officials did not take any measure to extend this suspension, but they could do it quickly if necessary.
According to Bloomberg, the EU has prepared another list of American products that can be subject to additional customs tasks.
Brussels estimates that imposing “customs duties of 30 % in EU exports would interrupt the essential transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of companies and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.”
A meeting in Brussels on Sunday
The Commission wishes to remember that “few savings in the world are reaching the level of openness and respecting the fair trade practices of the European Union.”
An EU spokesman said Brussels had been informed of this decision before Donald Trump published online letters.
The diplomats said that an unchanging meeting of ambassadors from the 27 EU countries had been summoned to Brussels for Sunday afternoon to discuss Trump’s latest initiative.
The presidency of the Italian Council said that Giorgia Meloni had “confidence” in the ability of both parties to conclude a “fair” agreement for August 1, and called to focus on these negotiations avoiding any additional polarization.
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Source: BFM TV
