Washington increased commercial pressure to the European Union by requesting 15% tariffs instead of 10% initially planned.
Trump said that August 1 is the final deadline to negotiate an agreement with the rest of the world.
Commercial negotiations between the United States and the European Union (EU) seem to have taken an unexpected turn after US officials communicated to Brussels that the American president, Donald Trumpwill require new concessions to the European bloc to reach an agreement.
Sources close to the conversations indicated to The Wall Street Journal that The new proposal includes a 15% base tariff at least for most European products, A figure greater than 10% that the EU negotiators had contemplated as a more likely scenario and on which the last weeks were negotiated.
European strategy change
That escalation in American demands caused realignment in the European position. Germany, who until now had advocated a more conciliatory strategy, decided to approach the most instantial position, traditionally defended by France, marking an important turn in the internal dynamics of the EU.
In fact, The European bloc response was swift. Member States are pressing the European Commission so that Prepare a countermeasted package that would include tariffs on American productsrestrictions on digital services and limitations in access to public procurement contracts.
Among the tools that the EU evaluates is Your “anticoration” instrumenta rarely used measure that would allow implementing commercial and investment retaliation to what considers undue economic pressure by Washington.
European Union.webp
The door is still open
Thus, both parties maintain the hope of reaching an understanding before August 1, deadline established by the Trump administration. He US Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnickexpressed his optimism on Sunday, although European diplomats warned that the failure of the conversations would leave “Only painful options” On the table.
In this sense, representatives of the European Union will meet this week to Formalize a retaliation plan in case of possible failure in negotiations.
A global impact dispute
Tensions acquire greater relevance considering the volume of commercial exchange between both economic powers. More than US $ 5,000 million in goods and services cross the Atlantic daily between the United States and the European Union.
The American country is the main commercial partner of EU goods. Concentrates a fifth of all exports outside the block. Only last year, the EU exported goods for a value of US $ 615,800 million.
Source: Ambito
