EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, President Donald Trump, said that the potential for ’'s EU cars %At a time of heightened tension between the bloc and the United States following the 25-’ tariff announcement, the United States will meet with its ’ counterpart, Jamieson Greer, on Tuesday.
Euronews’ has learned that the planned talks ahead of the G7 trade ministers' meeting in Paris’ were scheduled ahead of President Trump’'s latest tariff threat.
However, Trump and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed an agreement last summer in Turnberry, ’, Scotland, to impose tariffs on U.S. ’'s EU goods. ter signaling measures that would violate the EU-US trade agreement, which limits it to 15, they are now giving both sides the opportunity to ease tensions.
On Monday, the Commission tried to project a sense of calm.
Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier told “, "It's not the first time we've seen these threats, ” said, adding: “We remain extremely calm and focused on implementing the joint statement in the interests of our companies and citizens.”
Trump’'s threat came after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’ criticized the US ’'s approach to the war in Iran’ and Washington’ announced the withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany’, further straining transatlantic relations.
Bernd Lange, German MP, chair of the European Parliament's trade committee (S&D), is said toEuronews reported on Monday that Trump’'s threats specifically targeted German automakers.
“All options open”
The US president also accused AB’ of being too slow to implement the deal.
We have been implementing the Joint Statement (EU-US agreement) since day one and are fully committed to meeting our joint commitments, Regnier said, adding that AB“ is looking for predictability in EU-US trade relations.
The Turnberry agreement is currently being negotiated between EU governments and legislators before coming into force on the EU side. Joint legislators still need to agree on methods to reduce EU tariffs on U.S. goods to zero, as outlined in the agreement.
MEPs have nonetheless introduced measures to ensure that AB’ is not the only party adhering to its commitments and to protect the bloc from future U.S. threats.
The Commission reiterated on Monday that all ’ options would remain open if the U.S. “ took inconsistent ” measures with its trade agreement.
Last year, during the trade dispute that followed Trump’'s return to power, the EU executive drafted a package targeting US products valued at €95 billion, but these measures were later suspended.
At the time, some EU countries had also encouraged the use of the bloc's anti-repression tool, which enabled AB’ to respond to economic pressures from third countries with a wide range of commercial defense tools, including licenses and restrictions on intellectual property rights.
