“EU Advocates for Early Discussions to Avoid Tariffs”
By Philip Blenkinsop
WARSAW (Reuters) – The European Union is eager to promptly engage with the United States concerning President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs, said trade chief Maros Sefcovic on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the bloc’s leader Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that the EU will safeguard its interests throughout negotiations.
Sefcovic, speaking ahead of a gathering of EU ministers to deliberate on trade and EU competitiveness, expressed a desire for “early engagement” and awaited confirmation of Trump’s choice for Commerce Secretary, financier Howard Lutnick. “We are prepared to engage right away and we hope that by initiating these discussions early on, we can prevent actions that would disrupt the paramount trade and investment relationship globally,” he informed reporters.
Von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, stated that the EU’s primary focus was to collaborate on common areas of interest with the U.S., such as critical supply chains and emerging technologies. In a speech delivered in Brussels, she indicated that the EU is prepared for challenging negotiations to address grievances and establish a more robust partnership. “We will adopt an open and practical approach to achieve this. However, we will also make it unequivocally clear that we will always defend our own interests – whenever necessary,” Von der Leyen affirmed.
EU officials have disclosed that interactions with the Trump administration have been limited to date, citing restrictions on Trump’s appointees communicating with foreign counterparts until their roles are confirmed. Von der Leyen and Trump have not engaged since his inauguration.
The EU meeting in Warsaw commenced shortly after the enforcement of additional U.S. tariffs of 10% on Chinese goods, leading China to retaliate. Canada and Mexico were also slated to face 25% U.S. tariffs on Tuesday, but both secured a 30-day deferment. Trump has indicated that the European Union could be the next target, citing his dissatisfaction with the U.S. trade deficit with the EU.
Regarding this deficit, Sefcovic noted that it amounts to around 50 billion euros, constituting approximately 3% of the total annual EU-U.S. trade volume of 1.5 trillion euros. He underscored that 4 million jobs on both sides of the Atlantic rely on this open trading relationship. “We believe that by engaging in constructive discussions, we can find a resolution to this issue,” Sefcovic remarked.
While Sefcovic did not elaborate on the bloc’s negotiation strategy, some ministers offered insights on the EU’s approach. Luxembourg’s foreign minister Xavier Bettel stressed the importance of unity and strength within the EU, advising against initiating negotiations with concessions. “This is not a marketplace in Marrakech,” he remarked. “We do not offer. We listen, we exchange, we communicate. We do not offer.” Similarly, Irish trade minister Peter Burke suggested that it was premature to make concessions at this juncture.
