EU wants to negotiate, but is growing impatient with Trump

The European Union still hopes to reach an agreement with the United States after Donald Trump's renewed threats to impose 30% tariffs on August 1, but patience is running out, the EU's chief negotiator and European trade ministers said Monday.

"I intend to speak again with my American counterparts later today, because I cannot imagine leaving things as they are without a real effort," said European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic.

But, he added, "we must prepare for all eventualities, including, if necessary, proportionate and well-calibrated countermeasures to restore balance to our transatlantic relationship." The US president's decision, announced in a letter made public on Saturday, cast a chill as trade negotiations were still ongoing between Brussels and Washington, ahead of the August 1 deadline.

"The current uncertainty caused by unjustified customs duties cannot last indefinitely," Mr. Sefcovic stressed. "Obviously, the situation since Saturday must lead us to change our approach," French Minister for Foreign Trade Laurent Saint-Martin added in Brussels on Monday, ahead of a meeting of EU ministers. And there must be "no taboos," he insisted, including announcing the first reprisals on Monday.

The President of the European Commission – which negotiates on behalf of the EU member states – Ursula von der Leyen, has chosen to wait for the time being, under pressure in particular from countries like Germany, whose sales to the United States represent the largest share of total EU exports.

She announced on Sunday that the European Union would not retaliate for the time being against US tariffs on steel and aluminum, hoping to reach a less painful agreement. "We have always been very clear that we prefer a negotiated solution. This remains the case and we will use the time we have now until August 1," Ms. Von der Leyen said.

The EU already threatened in May to impose tariffs on US products worth around €100 billion, including cars and aircraft, if talks failed – even though one diplomat suggested the final list had been reduced to €72 billion.

European countries are trying to remain united in this matter, even though their economies are not equally exposed to the customs wrath of the American president.