Both the EU's Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have repeatedly expressed their willingness to negotiate with the USA. So far, however, they have mostly been met with new critical words from President Donald Trump.
We are in a difficult situation. Things are not getting better, they are getting worse. But our door is open. We are ready to talk, says trade spokesperson Olof Gill at the EU Commission's daily press briefing.
According to him, the Commission is expected to present initial plans as early as next week on how to respond to Trump's latest move from last week, regarding a general 20 percent tariff on imports from the EU.
Response to steel tariffs
Prior to that, the green light is expected for the EU's first tariff response, which concerns Trump's announcement from the beginning of March about US tariffs on steel and aluminum.
The EU member states have had the opportunity to comment on which goods should be included or not in the response over the past month.
The result was that a third of the EU Commission's original list was removed – including milk products, wine, and bourbon. Not least the latter had caused concern in Europe since President Donald Trump quickly threatened with 200 percent tariffs on European alcohol if the bourbon tariffs were not removed.
Cranberries and dental floss
According to the news site M Lex, 66 pages with approximately 1,600 products remain on the list that the EU member states are expected to vote on approving on Wednesday.
This includes a wide range of products from cranberries and tobacco to ski clothing, vegetables, dental floss, nuts, diamonds, and shoes. The majority of products are expected to receive tariffs of 25 percent, while around 50 will receive 10 percent – for example, various oils and hair sprays.
The implementation will take place in several stages: some products as early as April 15, others from mid-May, and some not until December – including soybeans and almonds.
Here are some of the products that the EU, according to leaked information, plans to impose tariffs on in response to the US steel and aluminum tariffs:
* soybeans, corn, rice, almonds, nuts, eggs, sausage, and chicken
* vegetables, fruit, cranberries, and orange juice
* ski clothing, clothing, and shoes
* tobacco, diamonds, makeup, dental floss, and hair sprays
* iron, steel, aluminum, and certain types of boats and vehicles
Sources: M Lex, Politico, Financial Times, Reuters
