The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced that she had a “good call” with Donald Trump, two days after the threats of US president to impose 50% customs tariffs on imports in Europe.
“Europe is ready to advance in quick and decisive negotiations. To achieve a good agreement, we will need time until July 9,” he said on the social network X.
“The EU and the United States maintain the most important and narrow commercial relations in the world,” he said.
Donald Trump said Friday that he was not “looking for an agreement” with the European Union and threatened to impose customs tariffs of 50% in twenty -seven imports as of June 1.
The European Commission, which negotiates trade agreements on the name of the EU, had immediately reacted by demanding the respect of Washington.
“The EU is totally committed and is determined to obtain an agreement that operates for both parties,” said Commissioner of Commerce Maros Sefcovic in X, after the discussions with the American representative in Trade Jamieson Greer and the secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.
The trade between the EU and the United States “must be guided by mutual respect, not for threats. We are ready to defend our interests,” he added.
The German finance minister, Lars Klingbeil, urged the United States on Sunday to carry out “serious negotiations.”
Endangers the American economy “
“American customs duties endanger the US economy, as well as the German and European economy,” said Lars Klingbeil, in an interview with Daily Bild’s Sunday edition.
The EU threatened at the beginning of May taxes for 95 billion euros in US imports, including cars and airplanes, in case of failure of commercial negotiations with Trump.
The commission also announced that the World Trade Organization (WTO) would take against the commercial measures of which he is a victim of the United States.
In recent months, the European Union has been attacked three times for customs duties in the administration of the United States: 25% in steel and aluminum, announced in mid -March, 25% in cars, then 20% in all other European products in April.
This last surcharge was suspended until July to start the negotiation. But the customs duties of 10% remain applied to most of the goods exported to the United States by the twenty -seven.
Donald Trump regularly attacks Europe from his return to the White House, considering him “worse than China” in commercial relations.
The United States estimated its deficit with the EU for goods of 235 billion dollars in 2024, but the European Commission points out that the US surplus in terms of services takes the commercial deficit to 50 billion euros (around $ 57 billion).
Source: BFM TV
