European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday that she will not meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington until concrete trade talks between the EU and the U.S. are possible.
Speaking at a news conference in Brussels, she expressed a desire for a specific package to discuss with the U.S., hoping to find a solution that both sides could agree upon.
The European Commission has launched a public consultation targeting U.S. imports worth 95 billion euros (107.2 billion U.S. dollars), warning that retaliatory measures could take effect if ongoing negotiations with the United States fail to yield an agreement, according to a statement released by the Commission on Thursday.
The consultation covers a broad range of U.S. industrial and agricultural goods, including wine, frozen meat, aircraft, cars and car parts, chemicals, electrical equipment, healthcare products, and machinery.
Currently, the EU faces 25 percent U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles, alongside 10 percent baseline duties on most other exports. The bloc has been preparing for a possible end to a 90-day tariff truce, which is set to expire on July 8. If no deal is reached, the U.S. universal tariffs could rise to 20 percent.
The Commission stated that the consultation on countermeasures aims to address both the universal U.S. tariffs and those specifically targeting cars and auto parts.
At the same time, the Commission announced that the EU will launch a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute against the so-called "reciprocal" tariffs and duties on vehicles and vehicle components. The EU will submit a formal request for consultations, arguing that the U.S. measures violate core WTO rules.
Von der Leyen says no US visit until EU-US trade talks possible
Von der Leyen says no US visit until EU-US trade talks possible
Von der Leyen says no US visit until EU-US trade talks possible
