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Brussels/Bratislava – The EU must wait for the first steps of the new US administration in trade policy and then take action. This was stated on Thursday in Brussels by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic Vladimír Šimoňák after the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, trade segment, reports the TASR correspondent.
Šimoňák recalled that the EU has ongoing trade processes with several partners around the world, such as with the Mercosur group, which have been going on for a long time, are complex and “cannot satisfy everyone” and where Slovakia has certain concerns in the agricultural sector. Then there are trade relations with Asian countries, but the most media attention is focused on China and also on the United States, where a new administration is being formed by Donald Trump.
When asked whether the EU is already preparing a strategy for Trump’s policy, who is openly expressing his intention to introduce tariffs on imports to the USA, Šimoňák stated that the European Commission is preparing something, but first we must wait for what the American administration will bring and not act excessively or hastily.
“The United States is not only an important trading partner, but also an ally and strategic partner, there is a wide complex of relations,” he warned. He confirmed that in seeking future responses in the event of new US tariffs, EU member states should be united. “I have not noticed anyone who would see any advantage in the individual approach of member states. Certainly, a country like Slovakia sees no such advantage,” he conveyed.
He recalled that Trump was already an American president and during this period trade exchange between the USA and the EU increased, and the United States became the most significant export market for Europe, with Trump’s rhetoric being similar to his current one.
He confirmed that there was then a dispute over steel and aluminum, and more such elements could be found, which, however, illustrates the diversity of mutual relations. He expressed hope that the EU will be able to deal with these relations comprehensively with the new American administration “in the spirit of partnership, alliance, and with constructive outcome.” According to him, this should also apply to the European automotive sector, which Trump often targeted before the elections, and if he fulfilled his threats, Slovakia would also feel it.
“Every member state has sectors it is sensitive about. The automotive industry is significant for Slovakia, but this does not mean there is an excessive reason for fear and premature reactions. We will wait and hope that as it goes among allies, we will first negotiate at all possible levels and only then take some measures. We hope that no fundamental steps that could endanger European interests will be taken without communication with us,” he explained.
There are also indications that Trump may force the EU to toughen its stance on China, but Šimoňák said that this was not discussed at the Council of Ministers, as we must first wait to see what policy America will adopt towards China. It is certain that future US-China relations will also have an impact on Europe, which was clear during the first Trump administration. (November 21st)
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