Šimoňák: EU member countries are concerned about 30 percent American tariffs
Brussels – Europeans are concerned about the 30 percent American tariffs. This was stated on Monday in Brussels by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, Vladimír Šimoňák, after a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, trade segment. This was reported by TASR correspondent.
Šimoňák said that trade relations between the EU and the USA were the main topic of discussions, although the ministers also appreciated the signing on Sunday of the conclusion of several years of trade negotiations with Indonesia.
He pointed out that all member states and all ministers saw Trump’s letter regarding the possibility of a 30 percent tariff, which does not apply to cars, where a 27.5 percent rate is in effect, but which has roughly the same effect as the threat of those 30 percent. “Concerns about those American tariffs are significant,” said Šimoňák.
On behalf of the European Commission, the EU’s possible response to Trump’s proposal was discussed with the ministers by the European Commissioner for Trade, Maroš Šefčovič. Šimoňák reminded that the disappointment from Trump’s letter was felt not only among the ministers but also in the case of Šefčovič, who is the main negotiator for the EU with the Americans.
“We were disappointed by that letter because we were convinced that the negotiations were developing in a significantly better direction and that we had some agreement with the United States on the horizon. At this moment, however, we are facing the reality that these tariffs will be applied from August 1. However, this does not mean that we are ending communication with the USA; those negotiations will continue,” he described the situation.
Šimoňák confirmed that the mood on the European side is such that if negotiations with the USA do not lead to results that correspond to the interests of the EU, then one must be prepared to introduce unilateral measures to protect the interests of the Union. He explained that the European Commission has been consulting with member states for several months about countermeasure packages and added that these consultations will now be expedited.
For TASR, he specified that within these consultations, the highest priority is the automotive industry. However, the consultations are highly technical, discussing thousands of items that must be analyzed, and the possible impacts of retaliatory measures are also being examined in detail.
“We appreciate that on the American side there are partners with whom technical discussions can be held. Whether all these discussions are then beneficial at the highest political level is another matter. President Trump has decided to communicate this way; it is his decision, we must keep our own interests in mind,” he explained the EU’s position.
The fact that Brussels postponed the introduction of countermeasures until August 1 is not seen as a concession but rather an effort to use this time frame for negotiations. (July 14)
“We were disappointed by that letter because we were convinced that the negotiations were developing in a significantly better direction and that we had some agreement with the United States on the horizon. At this moment, however, we are facing the reality that these tariffs will be applied from August 1. Vladimír Šimoňák
