US government not seeking deal to avert tariffs, says EU trade commissioner
US president Donald Trump's administration appears unwilling to strike a deal that could avert higher import tariffs, European Trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic said on Monday. Sefcovic visited Washington last month to try to strike a deal.
The US and the EU managed to identify a number of areas of mutual benefit that should be pursued, he told a press briefing in Brussels on Monday. "But in the end, one hand cannot clap. The US administration does not seem to be engaging to make a deal."
New US import tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and aluminium are due to come into force on Wednesday. They will apply to all trading partners, including the EU. In addition, Trump has said that higher tariffs on other European products could also come into force from April.
"We will always protect European businesses, workers and consumers from unjustified tariffs"
However, it is uncertain how many of these tariffs will actually be applied. Last week, Trump announced a last-minute suspension of higher tariffs on Mexico and Canada. Some believe he is using tariffs as a tool to extract concessions from other countries, rather than actually planning to enforce them.
Sefcovic said he hoped for a "constructive" and "positive" relationship with the US administration. But he also reiterated that the EU would respond to higher tariffs. "We will always protect European businesses, workers and consumers from unjustified tariffs," the Slovenian said. "I think we've been very clear about it and I know they expect no less from us."
© PHOTO JIM WATSON / AFP
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