Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Trade on tariffs: EU is united and ready

Luxembourg – The EU still hopes for negotiations with the USA, but is preparing for countermeasures.

A preliminary list of retaliatory tariffs is now being sent to member states ahead of a vote on Wednesday, announces Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic.

“Even though the EU prefers negotiations, we cannot wait forever. We have received valuable input from member states and have a robust list of countermeasures,” Sefcovic stated at the press conference following the EU countries’ extraordinary trade ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg.

Before the meeting, Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa said:

“From Sweden’s side, we will push to always keep the door open for negotiations with the USA. Europe has also been there in attempts to negotiate, but the interest from the USA has been very limited,” Dousa noted as he entered the meeting.

This is a first response from the EU primarily regarding the steel and aluminum tariffs announced by the USA. According to Dousa, there is a “broad consensus” among EU countries to respond:

“We will stand behind well-calibrated and proportionate countermeasures to pressure the USA to open up for negotiations. The best for Sweden, for Europe, and for the USA is a negotiated solution. But Europe is ready to act.”

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen simultaneously reiterated that the EU is ready to negotiate with the USA on tariffs.

“We have offered zero tariffs on industrial goods. The EU is always ready to make a good deal,” von der Leyen said at a press conference in Brussels. But she also stated that the EU is ready for countermeasures.

(April 7)