Ane Barcos
European trade ministers held an informal video conference on Wednesday to discuss trade relations with the United States following the Trump administration’s recent announcement of 25% tariffs on European steel and aluminium imports. At the meeting, convened by the Polish presidency of the EU Council, the EU-27 expressed their unity and determination to protect European industry from potential market destabilization.
Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič took part in the meeting, where ministers agreed on the need to support the European Commission in taking proportionate and responsible measures in response to US tariff policy.
“While the EU-US partnership is strategic, we will not leave decisions that harm our industries unanswered. At the same time, we want to maintain the offer of positive cooperation with the US to jointly remove barriers in the transatlantic market and promote economic security,” said Krzysztof Paszyk, Minister for Development and Technology of Poland, which holds the presidency of the EU Council.
After the meeting, the Council published brief conclusions in which the Polish minister assured that the EU will act with determination to protect its industry and that the unity of the member states will be key in the response to the tariffs.
The meeting also allowed for an assessment of the latest developments and prospects for engagement with Washington. Although the EU has reiterated its willingness to engage in dialogue, the European Commission maintains its position of responding with retaliatory measures if the tariffs come into force.
Šefčovič reiterated on Tuesday in the European Parliament that the EU will respond “firmly and proportionally with retaliatory measures” if the US tariff policy is maintained, although he also stressed the willingness to dialogue: “We are ready to negotiate and open to consensual solutions when possible.”
In addition, he stressed the importance of maintaining rules-based trade and strengthening the European bloc’s trade defence instruments.
This ministerial meeting takes place one day after the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, met on the sidelines of the Action Summit on Artificial Intelligence in Paris.
In the context of growing trade tension, Vance assured Von der Leyen that “the Trump administration has been very clear that we care very much about Europe” and that they seek to “strengthen both economic relations and security cooperation” with the EU. Von der Leyen warned that “unjustified tariffs imposed on the EU will not go unchallenged: they will lead to firm and proportionate countermeasures.”
