EU and US edge closer to €50 billion trade deal, EU trade commissioner says

The European Union is making significant progress toward securing a €50 billion trade deal with the United States, according to EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič.

The proposed deal would involve the EU purchasing €50 billion more in U.S. products, aiming to reduce the trade deficit between the two. Šefčovič pointed to sectors like liquefied natural gas (LNG) and agricultural products, such as soybeans, as key areas for increased U.S. exports to Europe. He expressed confidence that these measures could quickly address the deficit issue, noting that discussions were ongoing with U.S. officials, including U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

However, Šefčovič suggested that any substantial trade arrangement would require the Trump administration to remove its existing 10% tariffs on European goods, which were imposed as part of broader trade policies. These tariffs, which remain in place after a brief delay of reciprocal measures in April, have been a point of contention between the EU and the U.S. government.

The situation remains complex, with Šefčovič acknowledging that reaching an acceptable deal for EU member states and parliament would be challenging. The trade relationship between the EU and the U.S. has been fraught with tension, especially following the Trump administration's imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum, to which the EU responded with its own set of countermeasures.

The uncertainty surrounding the trade negotiations has left global markets and governments concerned about the future of transatlantic commerce, with many waiting for a clearer resolution. The EU has repeatedly emphasized its desire to give negotiations a chance, as EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen put it during a previous 90-day pause on countermeasures against the U.S.

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