European officials are reeling from threats by US President Donald Trump to raise tariffs on exports to the United States, specifically targeting cars and trucks with a proposed 25% increase. These threats come despite a trade agreement reached between the bloc and the Trump administration last year and occur amid tensions over the refusal of European countries to send navies to open the Strait of Hormuz.
EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič met with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer ahead of expectedly tense negotiations between EU countries and MEPs regarding the implementation of the EU-US trade deal. While Washington is pushing the EU to rapidly eliminate tariffs on US goods, the European Union wants the main parts of the trade deal adopted by July and has pushed Washington to respect previous commitments made under the pact.
The Turnberry deal is still under negotiation between EU governments and lawmakers before it can take effect on the EU side. Eurogroup President Kyriakos Pierrakakis and the bloc’s finance ministers have stated that Europe is ready to respond and will consider all retaliatory options should the US follow through on the car and truck tariff threats. The Commission warned that it reserves the right to consider all options if the US takes actions deemed inconsistent with the agreement.