EU Trade Commissioner: I told the Americans that tariffs are unjustified

The EU Commissioner for Trade Marosz Szefczovicz informed on Friday that he spoke on the phone with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, conveying to them that the tariffs imposed by the United States are unjustified and harmful.

The EU Commissioner wrote about this on platform X, adding that the conversation was “candid” and lasted two hours.

Szefczovicz assessed that trade relations between the European Union and the United States require a new approach. He added that the EU is willing to engage in meaningful negotiations but is also prepared to defend its interests. “We remain in contact,” the politician informed.

Marosz Szefczovicz had previously been to Washington twice, where he discussed, among other things, with Lutnick and Greer the trade relations between the EU and the U.S. and how to avoid tariffs. The last visit took place at the beginning of last week, after which Szefczovicz flew to China for trade talks.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed an order imposing “reciprocal tariffs” of at least 10 percent on goods imported from abroad, with tariffs on goods from the EU set to be 20 percent. The rates announced by the U.S. are intended to represent half of the total tariffs and non-tariff trade barriers imposed by other countries. For China, the tariffs will be 34 percent (this rate will be added to the previously announced 20 percent tariffs; it will total 54 percent), for Japan – 24 percent, for India – 26 percent, and for South Korea – 25 percent. Additionally, on the night from Wednesday to Thursday, previously announced 25 percent tariffs on cars and car parts came into effect. (04.05.2025)