The EU chooses to freeze the duties on the US products: « Now let’s deal with »

By our correspondent
Brussels – The European Union will freeze the countermeasures for 90 days in response to American duties of 25% on steel and aluminum, approved by the EU countries only two days agoas a sign of peace towards the Move of the US President Trump to lower the so -called « mutual duties » on EU products from 20% to 10% for 3 months.

« We want to give negotiations a chance », explained the president of the European Commission Ursula von der leyen, also adding that «If the negotiations are not satisfactory, our countermeasures will come into force». And therefore «the preparatory work for further countermeasures continues« And » all options remain on the table « . In short, no white checks and no forward escape.

There European Commission has moved in coordination with EU countries. Before announcing the suspension, the Community executive presented the proposal to the Member States, in an emergency meeting with the ambassadors at the EU convened yesterday morning: it lasted less than an hour, there were no objections. Then came the president’s announcement.

The contacts between the two banks of the Atlantic continue. The Commissioner for Commerce Šefcovic He said yesterday he spoke, « while we prepare to suspend the EU countermeasures and to start significant negotiations », With the secretary of the US trade Howard Lutnick And with the representative to trade Jamieson Greer: « Constant communication and daily updates allow us to go on, » he wrote on X.

The result is an unknown, so far the United States have not wanted to sit at the negotiation table: on the table there are not only the so -called « mutual » duties left at 10%, but also those at 25% on steel and aluminum and on the cars produced in the EU still in force.

On the European part there is the will to keep the transatlantic relationship firm and to meet American requests starting from a greater investment in the defense and greater purchases of GNL. Polish premier Donald Tusk repeated yesterday in an interview with Von der Leyen who «Defending our interests with firmness and decision and, at the same time, protect our transatlantic alliance From all adversities it is our common goal ».

The EU strategy does not change. Von der Leyen in a first morning declaration recalled that he had always supported a « zero to zero » tariff agreement between the European Union and the United States. He therefore explained that he will continue to focus on the « diversification of commercial partnerships»Of the Union by interacting with countries that represent 87% of world trade and share » our commitment to a free exchange « .

The president has lost time. Von der Leyen had one phone call with sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed al Nahyanpresident of the United Arab Emirates, in which they agreed to start negotiations for a free trade agreement. The president also had A « friendly » phone call with Canadian premier Mark Carleyto which he renewed his will to collaborate strictly to reform the global commercial system. Von der Leyen then heard the Premier of New Zealand Christopher Luxon, with whom he discussed the prospects of a closer cooperation between the EU and the global and progressive agreement of transparation partnership.

Of the macroeconomic impact and on the financial markets of the duties, the ministers to the Eurogroup and the informal ECOFIN in Warsaw will discuss today (Poland has the presidency of the EU). The Commission and the ECB will update the ministers on the evolution of the economic framework even if new estimates are not yet available. « The mood remains positive after the announcement of the break but the situation is serious, « explained a European official who works on the preparation of the meeting, adding that the EU must « be like a Buddha, calm, concentrated and have a strategic response ». Tomorrow the ministers will discuss how to finance the defense.