EU-US trade conflict - After Trump's ultimatum on tariffs, the EU reacted calmly
In the dispute over customs tariffs between the European Union and the US, the EU Commissioner for Trade, Maroš Šefčovič, has spoken out against a confrontational course with the US. Meanwhile, some groups in the European Parliament, as well as some member states, are calling for a tougher stance and approach towards the US.
According to Sefcovic, negotiations between the Commission, the Council and the Parliament are expected to be concluded in June. And he does not consider US President Donald Trump's ultimatum until July 4 as additional pressure on the EU: "This is fully in line with our timelines," says the commissioner. "We need to stick to numbers, not emotions, and act pragmatically and rationally," he adds. According to the trade commissioner, the EU, despite all the tensions and turbulence, wants to move forward with last year's Turnberry agreement. The 2025 Turnberry agreement foresees that EU importers will pay a maximum customs tariff of 15 percent in the US, while imports from the US to the EU will be largely exempt from customs duties.
However, the agreement has not yet entered into force on the European side. One of the reasons is the doubts that have arisen in Brussels regarding the reliability of the US as a partner following the Greenland crisis and the decisions of the US Trade Court.
The commissioner also said that jobs in Germany could be at risk. He categorically rejected the additional 25 percent tariffs on cars and trucks demanded by the US side, stating that nothing more than the 15 percent tariff that has been agreed upon will be accepted. This is support for German Chancellor Merz, who has recently described the new US demand for a 25 percent tariff on cars and trucks as "unacceptable" several times.
"If we fail to achieve this great deal for everyone, then 54,000 jobs in the automotive industry in Germany are at risk," said the European Commissioner for Trade.
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