The EU Commission responds to Trump on trade war

Efsyn.gr

Maria Psara

"The EU will react firmly and promptly against unjustified barriers to free and fair trade, including when tariffs are used to challenge legal and non-discriminatory policies. The EU will always protect European businesses, workers, and consumers from unjustified tariff measures."

In this way, the Commission expresses its opposition to the tariffs imposed by US President Trump.

In a lengthy statement, the Commission emphasizes that it considers President Trump's proposed "reciprocal" trade policy as a step in the wrong direction. "The EU remains committed to an open and predictable global trading system that benefits all partners,” it underlines.

As reported, the EU maintains some of the lowest tariffs in the world and sees no justification for increased US tariffs on its exports.

“Tariffs are taxes. By imposing tariffs, the US taxes its own citizens, raising costs for businesses, stifling growth, and fuelling inflation. Tariffs increase economic uncertainty and disrupt the efficiency and integration of global markets,” the Commission adds.

Global trade has flourished under predictable, transparent rules and low tariffs. For decades, the EU has worked with trading partners such as the US to reduce tariffs and other trade barriers worldwide, reinforcing this openness through binding commitments in the rules-based trading system – the consequences of which the US is now undermining.

“The EU thrives as one of the most open economies in the world, with over 70% of imports entering at zero tariff. The EU’s average tariff on imported goods remains among the lowest in the world. Economic integration and the removal of trade barriers have been fundamental to the success of the European Union,” it said.

“We believe in trade partnerships that are mutually beneficial and balanced, based on transparency and fairness. This is why the EU has the largest and fastest-growing network of trade agreements in the world. The EU has negotiated and concluded more than three times as many trade agreements with the US,” he insists.

And it concludes: “The EU will react firmly and immediately against unjustified barriers to free and fair trade, including when tariffs are used to challenge legal and non-discriminatory policies. The EU will always protect European businesses, workers, and consumers from unjustified tariff measures.”