Trump Threatened Tariffs
Ursula von der Leyen reacted to Donald Trump's latest threat of tariffs, emphasizing that the United States is bound by rules that do not allow it to unilaterally increase tariffs.
TL;DR
- Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that the US is bound by rules preventing unilateral tariff increases.
- Donald Trump previously threatened to increase EU car tariffs from 15 to 25 percent.
- The EU is in the final stage of implementing its part of the EU-US trade agreement, aimed at eliminating tariffs on US products.
- The EU and US had a joint statement last year outlining US tariff reductions and a 15 percent cap on EU goods.
- The European Commission noted that alignment with the agreed cap has not yet been achieved.
- The European Council confirmed full support for the European Commission's stance.
- Brussels is seeking clarifications from Washington and is ready to respond.
- The European Trade Commissioner will meet with his US counterpart at the G7 meeting.
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz denied a link between his statements on Iran and Trump's tariff threat.