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Šefčovič: EU offers Americans an opportunity to negotiate and avoid a trade war

by AI | 12.Mar 2025 | Europe in brief AI

European Commissioner Maros Sefcovic declared that the EU would implement countermeasures against US tariffs, but at the same time would strive to prevent a trade war.

European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic declared that the EU will take countermeasures against US tariffs. PHOTO: TASR/Jaromir Novak

Brussels – The European Union (EU) will introduce “countermeasures” on American goods worth 26 billion euros starting April 1st in response to the US 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. This was announced on Wednesday by the President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen. The Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maroš Šefčovič, emphasized that the US tariffs “are leading us in the wrong direction” and explained that the Union is trying to avoid a “trade war,” reports the TASR correspondent.

Šefčovič, in a joint statement with Leyen, pointed out that the trade partnership between the EU and the USA is well balanced and generates high profits for both sides.

“Especially in the area of steel and aluminum, we share some challenges, such as global overcapacities caused by non-market practices. The EU is part of the solution, not the problem. Last month, during my visit to Washington to highlight these points, it was clear that the EU is not the problem, and therefore today’s measures are even more unjustified,” said Šefčovič referring to the 25 percent tariffs on imports of European steel and aluminum to the USA.

The Slovak Commissioner reminded that he presented these arguments to the Americans to avoid unnecessary burdens of implementing measures and countermeasures.

“However, you need both hands to clap. The US administration has chosen a harmful course of unjustified tariffs, so we have no choice but to react – and that is precisely what we are doing,” he described the situation.

Šefčovič clarified that as the first step, the EU will automatically restore currently suspended measures from 2018 and 2020 to rebalance the customs burden, which effectively targets US goods exported to EU countries worth 4.5 billion euros starting April 1st.

He added that as the second step, the European Commission will take decisive measures to adopt a package of additional countermeasures applying to US exports to the EU worth 18 billion euros.

“In the next two weeks, we will consult with key stakeholders to help us create this new package. The aim is to balance the increased trade value affected by US tariffs while minimizing the impact on European businesses and consumers,” emphasized Šefčovič.

According to him, this situation can be avoided if the US administration accepts the “extended hand” of Europeans and is willing to cooperate with them to reach an agreement that would prevent a trade war.

“Under the leadership of the President of the European Commission, I am ready to negotiate. We are ready to make it happen,” Šefčovič sent the message. (March 12)

“Especially in the area of steel and aluminum, we share some challenges, such as global overcapacities caused by non-market practices. The EU is part of the solution, not the problem. Last month, during my visit to Washington to highlight these points, it was clear that the EU is not the problem, and therefore today’s measures are even more unjustified.” Maroš Šefčovič