sk flag go to the original language article
This article has been translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The news agency is not responsible for the content of the translated article. The original was published by TASR.

Šefčovič in Washington conveyed that the EU is ready for a fair customs agreement

by AI | 14.Apr 2025 | Europe in brief AI

European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič has visited Washington for the third time to discuss customs policy between the EU and the USA.

European Commissioner for Trade Maroš Šefčovič visited Washington for the third time regarding customs policy. PHOTO: TASR

Brussels – The European Union (EU) remains constructive and ready for a fair trade agreement with the United States, including reciprocity in the form of setting zero tariffs on industrial goods. This was stated on Monday evening by European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič after talks with his American partners in Washington, reports TASR’s Brussels correspondent.

Šefčovič continued on Monday on behalf of the European Commission (EC) with the third series of personal negotiations on trade policy between the EU and the USA in an effort to prevent a mutual spiral of imposing tariffs and a trade war.

The Slovak Commissioner confirmed on the social network X that he met in Washington with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and the top U.S. trade representative for President Donald Trump, Jamieson Greer, with the main topic of the talks being how to best utilize the 90-day “window” for mutual resolution of the imposition of reciprocal tariffs, which the EU considers unjustified according to him.

On the day of Šefčovič’s working visit to the USA, the European Commission confirmed in the EU Official Journal that it has suspended the application of retaliatory import tariffs on American goods for 90 days, until July 14. The announcement was published four days after EC President Ursula von der Leyen announced that Brussels had postponed retaliatory tariffs on American products for 90 days in response to a similar move by U.S. President Donald Trump, who decided last week to suspend the validity of reciprocal tariffs for exactly 90 days.

“The EU remains a constructive partner ready for a fair agreement, including reciprocity through our customs offer of zero for zero tariffs on industrial goods and work on removing non-tariff barriers,” Šefčovič stated after the talks concluded. He emphasized that achieving this goal will require “significant joint effort” on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

This was Šefčovič’s third visit to Washington focused on resolving contentious tariff issues. He first met with Lutnick and Greer on this matter on February 20, for the second time at the end of March, and last Friday (April 11) he had a video call with both partners lasting over two hours, also focused on tariff and mutual trade issues. (April 14)

“The EU remains a constructive partner ready for a fair agreement, including reciprocity through our customs offer of zero for zero tariffs on industrial goods and work on removing non-tariff barriers. Maroš Šefčovič