The European Commission has still not responded to US President Donald Trump’s announcements to increase tariffs on steel and aluminium, and to introduce so-called “reciprocal“ tariffs for all third countries. European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič has been in Washington since Monday 17 February in an attempt to negotiate with the US administration and avoid tariffs on European exports.
Several avenues have been explored, including by the commissioner himself in Munich last week. “If cars are the problem, if soya is the problem, if LNG is the problem, anything you want to discuss, we are ready to discuss it”, Mr Šefčovič said.
On Tuesday 18 February, the European Commission denied having proposed to the Americans to lower customs duties on vehicles imported from the United States and to increase imports of American LNG, as had been reported in some media. “No specific tariff reduction offer has been made on either side”, it maintained. However, it said it was “ready to find mutually beneficial solutions with the United States”.
The negotiations must be “balanced” and offer fair conditions to both parties, the EU institution insisted.
As far as taxes on cars are concerned, it explained that European tariffs are lower than those in the US, since the EU applies a universal 10% tariff on all vehicle imports (excluding countervailing duties or anti-dumping tariffs), while the US imposes a 25% tariff on pick-ups, for example. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)