EU races to avert Trump’s 30% tariff threat with urgent U.S. talks

EU ministers pledged on Monday to accelerate trade negotiations with Washington as President Trump’s looming 30% tariffs threaten to upend transatlantic commerce.

European Union ministers have agreed to prioritise negotiations with the United States to prevent sweeping 30% import tariffs announced by President Donald Trump, warning that such measures would have devastating consequences for EU-U.S. trade.

European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic described the new tariff threat as a serious turning point in negotiations. “A 30% tariff rate would make it almost impossible to continue trading as before,” he said ahead of a ministerial meeting in Brussels. “We must do everything we can to avoid this super-negative scenario.”

While Trump has set August 1 as the deadline for imposing the tariffs, EU diplomats believe there is still time to reach a deal. The European Commission has proposed suspending its first package of counter-tariffs worth €21 billion and is considering a second package targeting €72 billion in U.S. goods.

However, officials remain divided on the bloc’s response. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen urged unity but stressed the EU must be ready for all outcomes: “If you want peace, you have to prepare for war.”

France has taken a tougher stance, with Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin calling for broader retaliation. He urged the EU to consider targeting U.S. services or invoking its "anti-coercion" tool, designed to counter external economic pressure.

Despite signs that U.S. negotiators remain open to compromise, Sefcovic warned the EU must brace for “all possible scenarios,” signalling turbulent weeks ahead for transatlantic trade.

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