Intensive Negotiations Between Both Parties as Tariff 'Cliff' Approaches
Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs, stated after attending the Eurozone finance minister meeting in Luxembourg this Thursday that trade talks between the EU and the US are in an "intensive" phase and are progressing positively. His remarks come with less than three weeks remaining before the July 9 deadline set by US President Trump for the "tariff suspension period."
"We hope to find a mutually satisfactory solution to ease the current trade tensions," Dombrovskis said at the press conference.
However, he also emphasized that if negotiations fail, the EU is prepared to take necessary measures to defend the core interests of EU enterprises and industries.
'Reciprocal Tariffs' Still Hypothetical, EU Remains Cautious
When asked if he accepted Trump's proposed 10% baseline tariff, Dombrovskis responded that it is a "speculative assumption that does not accurately reflect the current state of negotiations." Nonetheless, several unnamed diplomatic sources have disclosed that the European Commission has privately communicated to member states that a 10% tariff could become a reality and is likely the bottom line of the negotiations.
In fact, Trump hinted that this rate would be the standard for "most-favored treatment" in the trade agreement reached with the UK this May. Should the EU fail to reach an agreement, almost all exports to the US face the risk of tariffs as high as 50%.
EU Prepares Retaliation List with Clear Deterrent Intentions
To counter potential trade impacts, the EU has approved retaliatory tariffs on 21 billion euros (approximately $24.1 billion) worth of American goods. Affected goods include politically sensitive agricultural and manufacturing products such as soybeans, poultry, and motorcycles from Louisiana—the home state of US House Speaker Mike Johnson.
In addition to the current list, the EU has prepared an extended countermeasure list worth up to 95 billion euros, covering emblematic industrial items such as Boeing planes, American-made cars, and bourbon whiskey, designed to counter Trump's proposed "reciprocal tariffs" and potential automotive tariffs.
EU: Ready to Retaliate at Any Time
European Commission spokesperson Ole Gills warned earlier this month that if negotiations break down, existing and newly proposed countermeasures will take effect on July 14, or even earlier if necessary.
"The European Commission has consistently stated that it will resolutely protect the interests of workers, consumers, and industries in the region, using all necessary measures," he added in a statement.
It is noteworthy that US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick recently stated that a trade agreement with the EU "might be the last one completed in the US negotiating queue." This indirectly illustrates the complexity of the current round of negotiations.
