Europe’s trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič engaged in crucial phone calls with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Monday. The discussions aim to facilitate a robust trade deal between the EU and the U.S., especially in light of President Donald Trump’s recent threats of sweeping tariffs.
Šefčovič emphasized the European Commission’s commitment to constructive negotiations, stating on X, “The @EU_Commission remains fully committed to constructive and focused efforts at pace towards an EU, U.S. deal. We continue to stay in constant contact.” This statement reflects the ongoing efforts on both sides of the Atlantic to reach an agreement that would benefit their economies and mitigate tensions.
The renewed engagement follows President Trump's harsh criticism of European negotiators last Friday, during which he threatened to impose a staggering 50% tariff on European goods starting June 1. Trump expressed frustration over what he deemed unproductive discussions, saying, “our discussions with them ... going nowhere.” However, a subsequent phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen prompted Trump to delay the tariff start date to July 9, easing market concerns significantly by Monday morning.
Despite this apparent progress, not all parties involved in the negotiations share an optimistic outlook. An EU official, who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive nature of the talks, expressed frustration, labeling the situation as “irritating, and ignorant. Self-sabotaging, drivel.” This sentiment underscores the challenges faced in the negotiations, as some feel the back-and-forth is counterproductive. “Do you need greater proof that talks are going nowhere than this nonsense?” the official added.
Nonetheless, the Sunday call between Trump and von der Leyen seems to have introduced “a new impetus” to the discussions, according to Paula Pinho, chief spokesperson for the European Commission. During a Monday press briefing, Pinho stated, “It’s positive to see that there’s engagement also on the level of the presidents and from our side, we always said that we were ready to make a deal.” This reflects a willingness from both parties to pursue a diplomatic resolution.
Olof Gill, another spokesperson for the European Commission, reiterated their commitment to a zero-for-zero strategy. This approach aims for both sides to eliminate their industrial tariffs, which Gill described as “a very attractive starting point for a good negotiation.” This strategy could potentially simplify discussions and lead to a mutually beneficial agreement.
As negotiations continue, the EU is proactively preparing a list of potential countermeasures should discussions with the White House fail. Gill noted, “As well as talking to our member states, we’re talking to industry and other stakeholders that might be interested in this to shape a final list of potential countermeasures.” He stressed that these measures are purely preparatory, highlighting the EU’s priority of reaching a successful agreement. “We need to repeat in all stages that this is preparatory work we’re doing in the event that negotiations don’t work out, which is our top priority, always has been,” Gill concluded.
This ongoing situation underscores the complexity and significance of EU-U.S. trade relations as both sides navigate the challenges of reaching a favorable agreement while addressing President Trump’s tariff threats.
