Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
Trade tensions are escalating between Brussels and Washington as the latter imposes new tariffs on European Union products, the latest of which are cars. The European Commission is seeking to respond with measured and measured retaliatory measures. According to what was published by the European news network in Brussels, "Euronews,"
The day after Washington announced the imposition of new tariffs on car imports, the European Commission said on Thursday that it is waiting for the US tariffs to take effect next week before deciding on a countermeasure.
"If necessary, we will provide a firm, proportionate, robust, well-considered, and timely response to the unfair and counterproductive measures from the United States," Commission spokesman Olof Gill said, adding that he could not specify the "exact timing" of the European Union's response until the other party's tariffs, including those on cars, take effect on April 2. US tariffs on steel and aluminum have already come into effect, while an additional 25% duty on car imports, which the European Union is particularly concerned about, was announced on Wednesday.
However, it remains unclear whether these tariffs will affect individual European countries or the EU as a whole.
In this context, the European Commission will consult with member states about reactivating taxes on some US products, suspended since 2018 following the trade dispute between the EU and the first Trump administration over steel and aluminum tariffs.
Brussels will also consider imposing tariffs on a second list of US goods. These steps will be carefully considered and will form part of a broader retaliatory response, possibly taking effect in mid-April.
According to Euronews, Brussels will not be satisfied with these two lists. An EU official stressed that the Commission, once Washington announces its reciprocal tariffs next week, may resort to further escalation.
The official said: "We have not announced anything regarding services or the anti-coercion tool." So far, the European response has focused on the steel and aluminum tariffs, with similar tariffs on US goods, and has not addressed services, which represent a significant escalation. In 2023, the United States recorded a €109 billion trade surplus in services with the European Union.
Some experts say that Brussels' use of the "anti-coercion" tool, which has not yet been used since its adoption in 2023, would be a "nuclear option" in trade policy. This measure authorizes the Commission to impose measures on intellectual property rights or, for example, licensing restrictions against a third country.
"At the same time, we will respond to the US tariffs and support the European Commission in finding a negotiated solution with the United States that avoids a spiral of tariffs," Habeck added.
In light of these developments, EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčović met in Washington on Tuesday with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Trade Representative Jamison Greer, and White House Chief Economic Advisor Kevin Hassett, but the talks were disappointing. "Commissioner Shefcovic's mission to Washington did not produce any negotiated results," Gilles said on Thursday, despite the Commission's hopes for progress.
French Economy Minister Eric Lombard commented on Thursday on the US auto tariffs on France Inter, saying: "This is very bad news. It is clearly an uncooperative act, while cooperation is what would allow us to solve the problem."
He added: "We are in a situation where we are under attack: either we allow this to happen, in which case this situation will never end; or we respond, unfortunately, and this is the rule of the game imposed by the Americans."
The White House announcement of the tariffs on auto imports sparked strong reactions across the bloc. German Economic Affairs Minister Robert Habeck said in a statement: "It is now important for the European Union to provide a decisive response to the tariffs. It must be clear that we will not back down before the United States of America. Strength and self-confidence are required."