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The European Commission has stated that the US has not provided clear demands on what it wants to lift trade tariffs, following a two-hour meeting between the trade negotiators of the EU and the US that yielded minimal progress.
EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič met with commerce secretary Howard Lutnick to discuss the removal of reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US, including steel, aluminium, and car levies. However, the US side did not outline its specific requirements.
Olof Gill, EU trade spokesman, emphasized the need for more clarity from the Americans regarding their preferred outcomes in the negotiations. Despite this, Šefčovič reiterated an offer to mutually eliminate all industrial goods tariffs.
The US imposed reciprocal tariffs on various countries based on their trade surplus in goods with the US. The EU, with a $235bn goods surplus in 2024, was given a 20% tariff. President Donald Trump has criticized the EU for not purchasing enough liquefied natural gas, cars, and for imposing non-tariff barriers on products like chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-fed beef.
Although Trump initially imposed tariffs on several countries but later dropped them, he instructed officials to prepare new measures against semiconductor and pharmaceutical products. Šefčovič stressed the importance of resilient transatlantic supply chains in these sectors.
The meeting between the EU and the US focused on a zero tariff plan and global overcapacity in the steel and aluminium industries. Food safety standards were highlighted as crucial, with the EU emphasizing the need for joint efforts to address shared challenges.
The EU has temporarily halted retaliatory tariffs in response to the steel and aluminium levies until July 14. However, preparations for additional measures are underway in case an agreement is not reached within the 90-day window.
Overall, the EU is approaching the negotiations with a constructive mindset, aiming to identify areas of common interest and achieve a successful outcome. The discussions are ongoing, with both sides recognizing the need for significant collaborative efforts to reach a resolution.
