At the end of the first day of the European Council on Thursday 22 March, the EU heads of state and government decided to postpone their debate on trade until Friday morning, and await the formal US decision before making a response to the Americans. Their decision was due to the lack of sufficient clarity on the announcement from the US administration earlier in the day as regards the EU's exemption from the US taxes on steel and aluminium, which were enacted by US President Donald Trump on 8 March and which are due to enter into force at midnight on 23 March.
"We cannot, this evening, say for sure what decision has been taken (by Washington). We do not consider that this increase in customs duties is justified and we therefore want to continue our discussions. We have to wait for night to know what the final decision of the US administration will look like", Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel stated.
"The president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, reported to us on the discussion process (undertaken by) the trade commissioner, Cecilia Malmström, in Washington this week, and we will continue it", Merkel continued.
"But if the US decision should end up with a rise in customs duties for the EU, then we will respond with counter-measures. This would be our common response. We want good transatlantic relations, but we will also respond should the international trade rules be violated", she said.
When they resume their work again on Friday at 9am, the 28 European leaders will debate and adopt conclusions on trade and the USA. Not invited to the work of the second day of the summit, which is to focus on Brexit and the eurozone, British Prime Minister Theresa May will join her counterparts for the discussion on trade before disappearing.
At this time of strong trade tension with the USA, the European leaders are expected to affirm their commitment to free and fair trade, and to show unity in a firm but proportionate response to be given to Washington, in the hope of avoiding a trade war. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)