World trade: According to Trump letter: EP chief chief long for the end of patience

The German Chairman of the European Parliament (EP) Commercial Committee described Donald Trump’s customs letter to the EU as “insolence” and demanded determined countermeasures. “We have been negotiating intensively for more than three weeks and made offers to promote common interests,” said Bernd Lange (SPD).

Against this background, it was brazen and disrespectful that the US President now increased the tariffs announced on April 2 on European goods from 20 to 30 percent. “This is a slap in the face for the negotiations. Real willingness to negotiate looks different.”

As a consequence, it was long advised to immediately put the first special tariffs on the import of US products in the EU. You should no longer wait, but use the economic strength of the EU to make it clear that Trump’s unfair trade practices are unacceptable, he said. The use of the EU instrument against coercive measures must also be considered seriously. This could be excluded from public orders in the EU.

Lange: EU has made offers

As points in which the EU Trump had accommodated in the negotiations last week, long gave the recognition of standards and certification processes as well as the development of investment opportunities. He also pointed out that the EU, as a sign of trust, initially suspended all compensation measures regarding the unjustified tariffs that have already been raised.

Trump had previously announced the EU in a letter new import duties of 30 percent from August 1st. The letter was sent regardless of previously running negotiations on an amicable solution. Trump justifies his customs policy with the trade deficit that the United States has with the EU. However, the EU assumes that it is also concerned with additional income to finance extensive tax cuts.