EU Readies Response to Trump's Trade Tariffs
European Parliament announces measures against U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum set to take effect on April 14.
The European Parliament's trade committee has confirmed that it will implement its initial countermeasures against U.S. tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump beginning April 14. This will include the previously discussed 25% tariffs on aluminum and steel and additional levies targeting American fitness and fishing equipment.
During a formal press briefing on Thursday, these measures were described as symbolic examples that are not expected to significantly impact U.S. national interests.
Bernd Lange, the European Parliament’s permanent rapporteur on U.S. trade, referred to April 2—a date Trump designated as "Day of Liberation" in reference to the tariffs—as a potential "Day of Inflation," citing anticipated price increases as a result of American policies.
As both the United States and the European Union brace for potential inflationary pressures resulting from the trade conflict, there is cautious hope that the U.S. may eventually engage in constructive negotiations.
Lange stated that the European Union has consistently sought dialogue with the U.S. regarding these tariffs.
However, he highlighted the complexities within the current structure of the U.S. government, which has made such discussions challenging.
The press briefing also addressed claims made by Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó regarding the European negotiators' failure to engage with the U.S. Lange refuted this assertion, maintaining that the EU has attempted to communicate effectively.
He emphasized that decisions related to migration and trade have been centralized under Trump, with few parties having real decision-making authority.
Only Peter Navarro, Trump’s chief advisor, appears to hold any significant power in these discussions, although it was noted that he was also unwilling to participate in substantial negotiations, despite European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič's efforts to engage with the U.S. last week.
During a formal press briefing on Thursday, these measures were described as symbolic examples that are not expected to significantly impact U.S. national interests.
Bernd Lange, the European Parliament’s permanent rapporteur on U.S. trade, referred to April 2—a date Trump designated as "Day of Liberation" in reference to the tariffs—as a potential "Day of Inflation," citing anticipated price increases as a result of American policies.
As both the United States and the European Union brace for potential inflationary pressures resulting from the trade conflict, there is cautious hope that the U.S. may eventually engage in constructive negotiations.
Lange stated that the European Union has consistently sought dialogue with the U.S. regarding these tariffs.
However, he highlighted the complexities within the current structure of the U.S. government, which has made such discussions challenging.
The press briefing also addressed claims made by Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó regarding the European negotiators' failure to engage with the U.S. Lange refuted this assertion, maintaining that the EU has attempted to communicate effectively.
He emphasized that decisions related to migration and trade have been centralized under Trump, with few parties having real decision-making authority.
Only Peter Navarro, Trump’s chief advisor, appears to hold any significant power in these discussions, although it was noted that he was also unwilling to participate in substantial negotiations, despite European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič's efforts to engage with the U.S. last week.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
